ORDER VII.—METAL WORKERS (NOT ELECTRO PLATE OR PRECIOUS METALS)

Sub-order 8.—Other Workers

239.—Gunsmiths and Gun Lock and Action Makers

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action maker

(i) a gunsmith q.v. who specialises in making gun actions;

(ii) see assembler, action.

armourer

looks after, cleans and does minor repairs to small arms in armoury of small arms factories; usually has had experience as a gunsmith q.v.

assembler, action ; action maker

assembles forged and machined parts of action of rifles, guns, pistols, etc., and screws in barrel, ready for action fitter-up q.v.; works at bench using hand tools, i.e., screw driver, spanner, wrench, file.

assembler, gun

as for assembler, rifle.

assembler, rifle

assembles and roughly fits together component parts of rifles, e.g., action, barrel, sights, trigger, set, magazine, etc., ready for rifle fitter q.v.; works at bench using hand tools, i.e., screw driver, spanner, wrench, file.

breech maker

a gunsmith q.v. who makes breech blocks for rifles and sporting guns.

ejector maker

a gunsmith q.v. who specialises in making ejector mechanism of sporting guns, which automatically ejects cartridge case from chamber of barrel.

finisher (guns)

receives assembled gun from gun fitter q.v., screws on wooden stock, and hand grips; sees that all parts of gun work smoothly and that screws are flush and correct; makes any final adjustments necessary; oils gun to prevent rusting; cf. finisher (guns) (498).

fitter, action; action fitter-up ; action jointer

receives assembled actions from action assembler q.v.; tests them for smooth working, files them and makes any adjustments necessary; sometimes specifically designated, e.g., cock fitter, ejector fitter.

fitter, break-off

files and fits breakoffs of muzzle loading guns, i.e., reinforced portions of breech and barrel which carry percussion nipples and flash ears.

fitter, gun ; fitter-up

receives assembled gun from gun assembler q.v. and makes any necessary adjustments, by filing, etc., to give smooth action.

fitter, rifle

as for fitter, gun.

freer, action

gun lock freer, lock freer (gun); adjusts gun lock actions, after they have been fitted by action fitter q.v. filing them, where necessary, with a very fine smoothing file.

gun maker, machine

assembles and fits together component parts of machine guns; works at bench using vice, screwdriver, spanner, file, etc.; sometimes specifically designated, e.g., Lewis machine gun maker.

gunsmith

(i) general term applied to workers engaged in making, from bar or rod steel, any or all parts of action, lock barrels, trigger, set, sights or any other metal parts of guns (chiefly), rifles, pistols, revolvers; forges parts, see gun work forger (190), machines or files them to required shape and size, and fits together at bench; is frequently, in case of best class of sporting gun work, an outworker who works for one or more gun-making firms; may specialise in making one part of weapon, or may even make weapon throughout; sometimes draws roughly machined parts from employer and assembles, adjusts and files them to produce finished arm;

(ii) general term used to denote any worker who assembles, fits, or finishes guns, etc., from machined parts in gun or rifle factory.

jointer, action

see fitter, action.

hammer maker

a gunsmith q.v. who makes hammers for guns or revolvers.

lock maker, gun lock maker, gun locksmith

a gunsmith q.v. who makes, assembles, and fits component springs and other parts of lock mechanism of gun.

percussioner

files and fits hammers of breech loading guns.

rifle maker

as for fitter, gun.

trigger maker, hair trigger maker

(i) a gunsmith q.v. who specialises in making complete trigger sets comprising trigger guard, trigger plate, and trigger;

(ii) operates machine for making triggers out of rod steel.

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From: A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921,
Ministry of Labour, 1927. Digitised by Peter Christian, August, 2016.   This text is in the Public Domain.