Compact Rifling Machine

[Stockcarver]

I like this machine. Compact, lead screw powered and you change the twist with change gearing similar to a lathe. Built in 1944.

The lead screw is belt driven by an electric motor. Lead screw moves the carriage,which holds the rifling cutter, and the spiral guide is turned by the movement of the carriage. Twist rate can be changed via the change gears that turn the spindle holding the barrel.

It would be real easy to convert to hydraulic power

This design is first on my list of rifling machines to build. I would probably put a sine bar on it instead of the spiral guide.

This machine disappeared in 2011 when the owner passes away.


http://anvilfire.com/21centbs/rifler_1944/PIC0001B.JPG


http://anvilfire.com/21centbs/rifler_1944/PIC00007.JPG

http://anvilfire.com/21centbs/rifler_1944/PIC00002.JPG

http://anvilfire.com/21centbs/rifler_1944/PIC00003.JPG

http://anvilfire.com/21centbs/rifler_1944/PIC0004B.JPG

http://anvilfire.com/21centbs/rifler_1944/PIC00005.JPG

http://anvilfire.com/21centbs/rifler_1944/PIC00006.JPG

[Multigunner]

Neat home workshop style set up. It would be very useful for reboring projects.

The simplest rifling jig I've seen demonstrated was a Afghan gunsmiths rig.
The set up was much like a rowing machine, operated by a young appentrice.
One end had upright steel slabs one that the barrel to be rifled was screwed into, the other having a simple slot cut through it.
The shaft was a ribbon of steel twisted to the rifling twist they wanted to cut. A bicycle hub was afixed to one end and a wooden T handle afixed to the hub.
The operator sat on a small seat and pushed and pulled the shaft in a rowing motion. The twisted ribbon going through the stationary slot then rotated with each pass.
IIRC the cutting heads were formed from the end of the ribbon, the ribbon split so the heads could be gven a certain amount of spring tension. The same basic method could incorporate a more conventional head and cherry or spud.

[Stockcarver]

Throw on a couple of Thompson linear rails for accuracy, add power to the barrel spindle, hook up a pumping system and you could also gundrill barrels on this one.

Just for grins take a look at Dan Lilja's site and find the photo of his drilling/reaming machines. Very simply made using linear rails and timing belt drives.

[scrapcan]

here i s a link to an online document that shows a similarly made boring and rifling machine as the Smithley shown above.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24050191/Firearms-Bill-Webb-s-Rifling-Machine-Supplement

[Stockcarver]

Yep I have seen Webb's before. Lots of rifling machines out there, the trick is to find the one that will work best for my application.

More info here, links to photos: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=43565

Sure wish John Taylor would jump in and post more photos of his.