Stanley Sighting Tool - used how?

[Goatlips]

Hey Pards,

Pettifogger answered my last gunsmith tool question so here's another one:  below is a Stanley sighting tool, nicely made.  Would this be clamped on a new barrel to see if it could shoot straight? The old timers must have checked out a virgin tube before they started drilling and tapping, what do you think?  Next question will be along the lines of "how do I measure a chambering tool?"  Thanks for having a look.

Goatlips

[Steel Horse Bailey]

This is an interesting tool, which is why, when I saw you had no answers, I'm putting it back on Pg. 1.

Did you post this on the Gunsmithing Forum,  as well?


If not, you might consider doing so.


By the way, thanks for posting your website on casting.  I've been shooting BP for many moons now, but only casting for the last 3 or 4 years.  It was/is a great reference site.  I hope you don't mind, but I copied your whole "school pages" and put them all in a small notebook that I keep at my casting area.  I also have copied other casting and related topics to use as handy on-site reference.  I have copied tidbits from you, John Boy, Driftwood Johnson, and others who put out good, helpful information.

Happy Trails!

[Goatlips]

Why thank you for the compliment Steel Horse.  You know of course that my site is mostly for beginners so they won't get scared off "SMELT ONLY IN AN ASBESTOS SUIT!"   "ALUMINUM MOLDS DON'T WORK!"  "LIQUID ALOX IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO!" but I do get some positive feedback when neophytes discover they can do it and what's more it's easy.  I gotta update that site one of these days, it was writ before there were many zinc wheelweights around, and those flexible pans are much better for pan lubing. 

The folks at the Cast Boolits site have some stuff on speed casting, too; whatever works for you.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8

Bruce B. on speed casting:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=57105

I'll have another look at the Gunsmithing Forum, right sure. 


Goatlips

[john boy]

Goatlips, here are more of the Stanley Sighting Levels.  This is a SWAG, but don't believe your level would be used on a firearm.  Instead possibly it was used in the carpentry or masonary trades - used in conjunction with a spirit level to determine the level, let's say a beam or a masonary wall or foundation
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-stanley-tools-forty-five-plane
http://www.toolexchange.com.au/STANLEY%20&%20OTHER%20USER%20TOOLS%2014.htm

I'm guessing that a spirit level was used with the level sight because of the sight picture used to 'level' the sights on this Mosin-Nagent rifle with the scale on the left O ... Plus or Minus
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/mosinsights/index.asp

Basically, it is the same method of leveling as a collimator (sp) that Tasco used to sell that had a stud that went in the barrel with a graduated screen on the other end

[Deadeye Dick]

http://www.antique-used-tools.com/stanleylevels.htm
Appears these are made for wood levels and are not related to firearms.

[Goatlips]

Hey John Boy and Deadeye,

You gotta be exactly right, they fit on a level, not a barrel.  (We got it easy with lasers today).  Reason I thought it was a gun item was it came out of a box of gunsmithing tools once belonging to a German smith from the old country, who had to be a carpenter also, as he made the toolbox they came in.  The whole magillah is now in South Carolina with the owner, an auctioneer.   

Thanks for the answers Pards!  What a resource, what a country! 

Goatlips

[fourfingersofdeath]

We sure have it easy compared to the times when I was aboy and used to help my grandad do carpentry, plumbing and painting repairs. I saw a complete Tripod with a laser beam leveller at Bunnings (big hardware chain), $AU39.99. That wouldf have saved me a lot of sore arms, holding that new fangled chear tubing with the water in it to find the levels.