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It’s not a Winchester, but I thought there might be some interest in seeing the toy I brought back from the Colorado show. Mark
Mark,
That is very fascinating. And I thought Pratt and Whitney only made airplane engines.
Al
Fascinating to watch. Unimaginable to my uneducated mind. Thank you for sharing! RDB
November 7, 2015
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Very impressive, Mark. I enjoy being reminded of the engineering that went into a seemingly simple machining job in those days. I’m also impressed by the workmanship and dedication of your new friend from Arkansas. Once set up and adjusted, how many barrels do you estimate a skilled worker could produce in a day? I’m guessing even a small manufacturer would need several of these machines, someone like Winchester would need dozens.
Mike
Mark, You finally did it! Jumped into the deep end of smithing the old rifles! Amazing equipment and so glad it was salvaged and put into working order. Enjoy your time with it! Tim
Mark –
That is really cool. Maybe I have a Whitney rifle with a barrel that made on that machine?
Oh, and your teaser – what Colt rifles did Erin pick up?
Thanks guys! I’m really looking forward to making correct reproduction barrels on the same kind of machine that made the originals. I’ve still got a long way to go, but it’ll be one heck of an experience. Stay tuned for updates. Mark
Fascinating!
I think you’ve been bitten by a whole different kind of bug to say the least.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
oldcrankyyankee said
that thing is awesome Mark. How long of a barrel can you make with it?
In 1915, Stevens was bought out by New England Westinghouse and the plant was tooled up to fill a contract with Czarist Russia for 1.8 million Mosin Nagant rifles. The rifling machines were modified to rifle 31″ blanks for this order. When they stretched the machine’s length capacity, they extended it more than needed for those barrels. From my measurements, I believe there is enough length in the stroke to rifle a 36″ barrel although I would have to fabricate a slightly longer sine bar to make it happen. There are two of the original cutters that came with the machine, one in 45 caliber and one in 50 caliber, that are 40″ long and would be able to rifle a 36″ barrel. Mark
Mark,
Truly an another amazing video and once again very informative. You’re talents and knowledgeable history valuations are so appreciated by so many of us.
Keep up the good work and tremendous videos! 
Antonio
January 26, 2011
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So glad to see this piece of history go to your shop, Mark. I can’t think of a better place for it. Seeing that machine over the years at the shows, I never thought about it being for sale. Leave it to Mark to make an offer and haul it home! Great to see you and your lovely bride. See you in Cody.
~Gary~
Mark,
I stood and was mesmerized by that machine while it was in operation at the show in CO. I was fascinated by the eccentric gear that is the heart of the system. It never occurred to me it might be for sale and I am glad you were able to obtain it. I can’t think of a better home for it!
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Hi Mark,
I liked your video on the P & W rifling machine it was fascinating. Watching a machine work like that makes realize what American know how and industry could create when needed. Sometimes I have to remind myself of what we were capable of at one time by opening the back of an old Walthan watch and to realize the know how of what we could do at that time. I am glad your machine wasn’t scrapped. I own a manufacturing company that started during WW2 (1944) and now nearly 80 years since its inception my company still using some of the original equipment today that it started with back then. In particular we currently use coil winding machines that have War Production numbers on them. Although our shop is equipped with CNC machines we still use old drill presses (Walker-Turner & Buffalo) and Logan Turret lathes. To me it proves there still is a place for these old machines.
Thanks for sharing!
Rob
Robert Drummond Jr said
I liked your video on the P & W rifling machine it was fascinating. Watching a machine work like that makes realize what American know how and industry could create when needed. Sometimes I have to remind myself of what we were capable of at one time by opening the back of an old Walthan watch and to realize the know how of what we could do at that time. I am glad your machine wasn’t scrapped. I own a manufacturing company that started during WW2 (1944) and now nearly 80 years since its inception my company still using some of the original equipment today that it started with back then. In particular we currently use coil winding machines that have War Production numbers on them. Although our shop is equipped with CNC machines we still use old drill presses (Walker-Turner & Buffalo) and Logan Turret lathes. To me it proves there still is a place for these old machines.
If you ever set foot in this place, the American Precision Museum, they’ll have to drag you out the door at closing time, as they did me: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanPrecisionMuseum
And here’s their rifling machine: https://www.menmachineandthecarbine.org/rifling-machine
It’s in this same building, the former Robbins & Lawrence Armory, that the earliest ancestor of the first Winchester was manufactured, the Jennings Repeating Rifle, which evolved into the Volcanic, then into the Henry.
I saw it at the Co. show. Took me a few minutes to figure out what it was. Thanks for the great video.
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