chrisb
New Member
Gunsmithing school
Posts: 8
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Post by chrisb on Aug 16, 2016 20:20:10 GMT -5
Long time reader, first time poster...
Im refurbishing an M81 CIRCA 1946 that I inherited. The overall finish is pretty worn but has no exterior rust, just 70 years of gunk and internal surface rust. That's all been cleaned out and oiled except for the barrel assembly. I'm trying to find a proper tool and am coming up with nothing. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Once I'm able to take it down completely, I intend to blue it. I've already repaired the stock and refinished it with linseed oil. It looks great so far. I know this gun will never sell for lots of money and that's really not the point of the refurb. I intend to use it as my grandfather did and pass it on to my daughter one day. I need it to be functional and to have a good looking finish.
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Post by battis on Aug 16, 2016 22:26:49 GMT -5
To remove the barrel nut, you need a spanner wrench. I don't have one and didn't know which one to buy, so I made one. I took the locking collar from an old RCBS die, removed the set screw, slid the collar over the barrel nut, stuck a sharp screwdriver/pick through the hole in the collar and into the hole in the nut. When I turned the collar, the pick held tightly in the nut's hole, and it unscrewed easily. If it doesn't turn, you could try PB Blaster and some heat. To remove the barrel bushing (two slotted ring) I just used a long, flat piece of metal that fit in the slots and twisted it. Have you seen this video? www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZhI3T9nMb0
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chrisb
New Member
Gunsmithing school
Posts: 8
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Post by chrisb on Aug 17, 2016 7:21:35 GMT -5
Thanks Battis. I've seen this video before and I can't find CBR tools anywhere online. And like you, I've been looking for a way to make the tools myself without a mill or drill press. I happen to have an RCBS press and extra locking collars and I may try your solution. But I wonder if I could file a single noded castle-nut wrench to fit the hole?
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Post by battis on Aug 17, 2016 10:22:00 GMT -5
I might have gotten lucky with my solution. The die locking collar was the right size, the barrel nut wasn't frozen. The castle nut wrench might fit. My rifle worked much better once I cleaned and oiled the exterior of the barrel and the inside of the shroud. Great rifles.
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chrisb
New Member
Gunsmithing school
Posts: 8
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Post by chrisb on Aug 17, 2016 11:05:58 GMT -5
I have both so I'll try each to see which works better. Thanks again
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chrisb
New Member
Gunsmithing school
Posts: 8
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Post by chrisb on Aug 23, 2016 6:45:27 GMT -5
The RCBS locking collar is way too big and is going to leave scratches from the threads in my barrel. I'm not going to use it. I've since ordered a single pin 3/4" spanner and will probably have to file down the pin to fit. That tool is still not the answer though. I'm taking some designs to a machinist to recreate some CBR tools.
I've tried to get a response from another member about some tools he made, but it looks like this forum is dying. That's too bad. I was looking forward to having a group of folks to talk with about these guns.
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chrisb
New Member
Gunsmithing school
Posts: 8
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Post by chrisb on Aug 25, 2016 9:11:28 GMT -5
So, I've moved on from trying to find these tools to manufacturing them myself. I will be constructing tools that are of a quality on par with the CBR pro set. Message me if you're interested.
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Post by blackbahart on Aug 27, 2016 1:31:14 GMT -5
here is a pic of the tool I fabed up to remove the barrel nut and my spanner for winchester fore end nut works on the two slotted with no scraches or marks .Just a piece of round stock and easy to make
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chrisb
New Member
Gunsmithing school
Posts: 8
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Post by chrisb on Apr 6, 2017 8:15:17 GMT -5
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Post by blackbahart on Apr 6, 2017 10:43:20 GMT -5
looks like it works as intended,only goes to show that the super rare wrench has many work arounds .Good work !
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