Barrel Forging Seminar 2006
Gents, if you weren't hangin' out in th' Yeller Tom Cat Forge recently, you missed what seems to becoming an annual event around here, and that's a pistol barrel forging seminar. We even managed to find a little time for trigger guard fabrication, knife work, and some BS. You might ask why pistol barrels and not a rifle barrel. The crux of the matter is: the basic processes are the same, so by welding up a short pistol barrel, everyone gets to hammer one to completeness.
Below are some photographs taken during the event which depict various stages of the process. Th' heat did get a mite intense on occasion and gloves became really popular fashion apparel. The nasty ol' July sun just couldn't stay away an' the shop's temp climbed up to about 130 degrees on Thursday. Some how, I wound up with a blister on each side of my nose.....and you thought I USED to look pretty bad! I'm quite proud of these guys and I'll brag here that each and every barrel was a keeper. We all had great time and enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Yeah, yeah, Bookie. A bunch of barrels were welded up, but were the welds any good?
You see a weld seam, boys?