A Cabinetmaker knows how to make a hair spilting sharp chisel, and the proper use of a file but we don't make flat springs. The Cabinetmaker that I apprentice to told me two things. One Use Your Own Brain and Two, Go beyond what he had done. The Art and Craft of all trades are very close to one another. Even Masters make mistakes but a Master knows how to correct their mistakes. Mark you are giving some very goog advice.Thank you.

6:49 My Grandfather was a chemical engineer with emphasis on petroleum products. He would lick oils to tell you what they were because they all tasted different. He lived to be 89, not a lick of cancer. What did scare him was gasoline fumes. He loved making gasoline, especially those in the 140+ octane range, but he treated it with the deepest respect because it was the single most dangerous chemical he ever worked with (and he worked on refineries that made actual explosives including nitroglycerin). Days he had to be in gasoline facilities, he left his cigarettes and lighter at home so he wouldn't even absent-mindedly light up.

"I'm living inside the head of an 1800s gunsmith" has shirt potential, just putting that out there 😆

Mark, you are at the top of the gunsmithing people on KZfaq. I enjoy your sense of humor and your vernacular. You are very informative and entertaining and a pleasure to spend "my" time on. Thank you for your knowledge and time. Chip

If Ian is Gun Jesus, then Mark is Gun Moses.

If learning that boiling converts rust is the only thing I ever take away from this channel it has been time well invested.

It’s always a pleasure to sit and listen to a guy that’s true to his profession Mark. I really enjoy your content and will always pick up ways to do it right. Take care, God bless!🎚🙏🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾

Everybody wants their free ice cream right now. Thanks for putting these out when it's convenient for you.

Listening to you is a pleasure your common sense is enlightening nowadays common sense is not too common. Kids today don't take ownership in their failures 40 years as electrician I took ownership of everything I did

Hello Mr.Mark. About the .22 work. While back you tuned up/repaired a H&R 999 sportsman 9 shot .22 revolver for me. It did cost me about what i could buy another for, but it would not have been my granddad's revolver, and it likely would not be so perfectly timed and with such a nice action/trigger. I have zero complaints on spending that cash on that revolver. Thank you sir for doing such a fine job on it.

I have talked to so many shop teachers in the last couple years about what the schools don't teach anymore. My son, who is 12 is a tinkerer. He likes to take things apart, put them back together. His passion is aviation and has taken several courses in it, flight prep, how to plot courses, manage your fuel supply etc. He's spent more time in airplanes in the air then I have and we're hoping to get him into the Civil Air Patrol. One of the things about education now is everything is all computers, they do little else. I told his teacher earlier, if you want the kids to do other things, get them away from the computers, not all of it, but some of it. I've already told my son, forget college, go into trade school, be a welder or a machinist. He will be out in the workforce faster and won't be buried in debt like a four year degree will do to him.

Wisdom / Skill is Not Cheap, Thanks, Mark - Always Learning, Never Forget...God Bless, Have a Wonderful Day - Merry Christmas !

Mark, enjoyed your chat. In a previous life I was a licensed aircraft mechanic. A similar don't fuck up trade. You brought a smile to my jaded life! Keep doing what you're doing.

Nothing like sitting down with a Craftsman and listen to him talk about his trade. This along with you and your guys are EXCELLENT!

Very much the kind of person.. that I wish I knew more of... They are slowly... Disappearing... From this world... Someone I would love to work for. And learn from

Brill videos mark ...keep it up ...learned so much .....me from England......Wales.

Mark I always told my apprentices was to take a spark of wonder and turn it in to a flame of passion you have to love what you do to be good at it. And it's not a mistake until you can fix it

I was a Crane operator at Bethlehem steel changing out work rolls and backups. I remember plenty of times when the sheet would tear off or the mill didn't stop/slow down and the metal would rip in pieces hitting everything within 100 feet. The metal would come flying through the air hitting the Crane hitting the windows. It's awesome knowing you programmed them mills. Love the videos

I don’t even have a desire to be a gun smith. But you are the reason I got into watch Making. I love the intricate things in life. Must be an electricians trait.

Thank you Mark, your knowledge is valued not only by your customers, but your viewers, too. To me, hearing what you said about mistakes is very significant

Man, I could listen to you talk for days brother. I had the privilege of growing up while the internet was still that weird thing your reprobate uncle Ronny was into, so most of my social media came from hanging out with the "elders" and listening to them swap stories. I learned to love the way language was weaved into a tapestry, and you are a master. Also of note - it never ceases to amaze me the propensity of young men to delight in things that make loud noises with the potential to explode. Imagine if we actually encouraged that in this country again.

My father was a printer and always took pride in his profession. He always told me that printing took man out of the dark ages. Now I have to tell my kids that paper doesn’t break. Thank you for the nod to the vanishing art of typesetting and actual printing.

Still love your channel! Hopefully finances will allow me to become a patron again in a few months- trending that way. I enjoy your craftsmanship and your intellect.

Showing up. That is Priority One no matter what you do. I am a Chef and hire for a very large restaurant. We have a peak staff of close to 200 people in the summer. I have one guy who was an amazing dishwasher. I hired him out of work release. He got through all of his responsibilities to be a productive member of society then he started screwing up and partying. He would call in because he partied with friends who would end up an hour away in a different town. I finally pulled him aside and said I will need to fire you if you do not get your shit together. He said, "But I am your best dishwasher and one of your best workers!" I said, "You are 100% right BUT that does me no good if you DO NOT SHOW UP." He has been with us for going on 10 years and cooks now.

For me on this Sunday afternoon, that was time VERY well spent! Thank you Mark.

It use to be that tradesman or craftsman would intern for 23 years before they go off to be a master in their profession. I appreciate the skills of a electrician, plumber, and now a gunsmith. If only KZfaq was around 45 years ago, I would have probably have a different profession now. It is a joy to listen and learn of your craft. Happy Holidays.

I absolutely love your channel! I am 48 years old and Dad was in the Army. I spent 12 years in Germany between 1979-1991. I apprenticed as an Automotive Technician. You had to understand mechanical and electrical systems and be able to weld with gas and electric welding, be able make tools, gaskets, screws, machine parts and make parts from scratch. You had to be able to make body panels with English wheel, plenishing hammer, shrinker etc....Mechanical and electronic fuel injection was the norm in Europe even in the 1980's! I like to tell people my generation had the pleasure growing up when the analog world and digital world collided in a spectacular fashion. I am blessed to be able to write poetry, machine a screw for an old machine, repair a ham radio and drive a manual transmission and fly a plane! If I want to do something old or new I know I can learn anything and do anything if I have the need or interest! I know I can survive any place and be useful anyplace I find myself. That is so empowering. I love the time I grew up and all the things that were old and new at the same time! Young men today have no idea what they are missing out on! Keep doing what you do and spreading the truth as you see it!

You're are awesome Mark, I enjoy you and your videos so much. I like very much the way your mind works.

Heck yeah boys and girls - this man has so much knowledge and wisdom to share. For example “… can’t count to 21 without his fly down.” 🤣

This video is absolutely fantastic. So interesting. I watch your videos a lot. I completed a cabinetmaking course after retiring from the army. Bad back so I worked mostly on smaller projects. Cigar Chest, Carriage Clock for my daughter and Jewelry Box with music. I was surprised that the young students “ could not measure anything “.Your wood repairs are amazing. I learn so much every time. I watch your hands a lot and pick up different techniques. Thanks again.

Y'all have the obligatory "this is not a tutorial" banner and I fully understand why, but I gotta say, I've learned a helluva lot from watching your stuff over the years. It's helped me with not only smithing, but run-of-the-mill sorts of stuff as well, especially the bit about figuring out how to undo your mistakes

Mark, absolutely love what y’all do! And thank you 100% for sharing everything you share with us! It’s almost crazy how much my path mirrored yours, I too am a Journeyman Wireman, I didn’t serve our great country like you did, instead I worked in the oil field most of my career as an automation engineer & project manager, for a few little oil companies like ConocoPhillips, BP & Exxon, just to name a few. I am also extremely mechanically inclined. I am also a semi professional Gunsmith (not talking about AR-15’s either) mostly milsurps, which are my true passion. Anyhow, I can surely stand on my own merit & I would still happily PAY YOU for the opportunity to apprentice under you, just for the opportunity to learn 5% of the other 95% of the skills & knowledge that you have, that can’t be taught via KZfaq. But I can’t thank you enough for freely sharing the information that you do! You have made me a much better craftsman & one day I hope to be able to thank you in person properly & shake your hand!

I’ve stored muzzle down since I first read one of Michael McIntosh’s books nearly 20 years ago. Good and cheap Gunsmiths do not exist in the same package. I know this, and know it well. This was a fantastically great Q&A Sir, I truly, truly enjoyed it. 👍🏻

I'm a bike mechanic, and when I was new, I cross threaded the bottom bracket on a rare 6,000 dollar frameset. Fortunately, it was a lugged steel frame and we were able to send it back to the maker (in italy) and have it repaired. (It took like a year) Every time I thread or crown a barrel, or replace a bottom bracket, I relive that moment. You do get better.

Mark is what this country is missing. A true artist.

First off let me say thank you for your service. And thank you for these videos as well

Thank you Mark! I am a retired industrial electrician. I too had a father that was very mechanically inclined and it seemed he could always fix just about anything. Going through my electrical apprenticeship i was very lucky that two of the journeymen (out of 7) were not only receptive to my questions but were exceptional trouble shooters. Once i sucked in enough knowledge they both appreciated my input during problem solving and like you were receptive when i called them out on why a potential fix would not work. I never obtained the superior trouble shooting skills those two had but i came close enough to instill my confidence. I hate that sick feeling you get in your gut when you F up and destroy equipment.

The 5% you show is worth 100% of my time… love this channel

WOW! Mark, you are dime kind of GENIUS! Love to shoot high power air rifles and have no interest in being a gunsmith. I am a hardwood stairguy and just really enjoy your content!! THANK YOU!!!

Enjoyed that. Store them muzzle down is a great idea. I've been doing that a long time. If there loaded the muzzle is down and keeps the dirt dobbers out and safer taking them out of my gun closet.

I thank you for what you share with us the audience. I look forward to the new videos but I also understand you have a business to run and know that when you do post one it is always worth the watch.

I loved it when you dipped your finger into the used oil and tasted it. YOU ARE THE MAN, MARK.

'Store 'em muzzle down' was worth the price of admission in its own!

The saying goes, the cemeteries are full of irreplaceable men.... :) Love your content sir. Thanks a bunch.

Love your videos brother keep up the great work! Thanks for everything you do I can watch your videos all day long

Thanks for the flat across the bench talk. I have made a career in the furniture world for years and have lived tough resale a repair to the customer.... It's amazing how the culprit of poor care kills the life of a firearm. Yes, if one can master the mistakes you may have a future as a smith. I knew a man that knew his repairs, but just didn't have time for an apprentice, he is sadly long gone. Thanks for the time and wealth of information.

Have to agree with your "a problem" comment. When I was in industrial maintenance, sometimes it was hard to figure out what the main problem was. There were always several things wrong by the time we were called. When I was stuck, I would just start fixing things that I knew were wrong (and needed fixing anyway)and soon the main problem would became evident.

This is probably the 3rd, or 4th time I have watched this video. You are a genius Mark. Honest, obviously experienced, and I will say, more knowledgeable than I will ever be, within a few lifetimes It is an honor, to be a part of your experience. Thank you for sharing your experience. Thank you. Mark

Outstanding AF Mr Novak, thanks for your time, you're intellect is welcome in this perticular fourum. I'm a gun guy and find this all very interesting. Merry Christmas to you and yours!!! 🇺🇸☠️🇺🇸

Not even half way though this video and already my favorite! "Flipped off 3 times on the way to work"...I had to stop it and do a replay!! Thank you Mark. I believe the principles you teach are essential. I work in the capacity of a teacher to a certain degree providing orientation training to new hires for my employer. You are truly helping me stay inspired despite the mass of individuals that simply are NOT teachable that come through week after week. Again, Thank you!!

Mark, thank you for all you do. I love your videos and humor, and learned so much! I’d love to be an apprentice with you, but I’m an old man now. Had the bug for many years, but no one to work with. Take care and stay safe bud! Keep on keeping on! ✝️🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Thank you Mark. A most pleasant half hour; well worth the expenditure of time. Thank you for your service. If you please, more piano. It is the balm that soothes the savage beast.

Thank You VERY much Mr Novak. Your Wisdom speaks volumes.. and speaking of volumes: I have most of the books on your professional shelf there save one. I thought I had them all but one, "Professional Gunsmithing" by Walter J Howe I did NOT have. I THOUGHT I did but found the volume I have is "Amateur Gunsmithing" by James Howe. Mine is copyright 1936-1953 (the later of which is my birth year). I think this was Walter's Dad. Fascinating work in its own right but, I purchased a copy of Walter's via Amazon after your recommendation. I aspire to the trade but know I started way too late, and with way to little knowledge and skills...but I am VERY good at screwing up!

Excellent information, and a great outlook on working.

"Here are my last 3 AR builds..... hands mark hand made from scratch complete ARs."

Sir just 5 percent of your knowledge is giving me insight into what I should be looking for and how to get it done thank you for a great video five stars

A good cigar, coffee, and a frozen Thin Mint, you sir, are a man of rare and exquisite tastes.

Thanks for this awesome video. I really appreciate you taking your time for the "fireside" chat. Merry Christmas to you and yours grandpa😁👍

I always enjoy getting to see inside your bucket! Thanks

This very interesting from start to finish.....Thanks Mark.....💥👀👍

Kudos on your history Mark better to know a little bit of everything than just one trade IMHO ... Thanks Take Care Keep them videos coming I for one appreciate them ! Best Wishes for the Holidays & a AWESOME NEW YEAR !

Thank you again from Canada I/we appreciate your time and knowledge

Love your channel Mark, as an English shooter I use a pair of 100 year old guns, and interestingly, WW Greener’s house is now a hotel, where I have stayed.

Your videos interesting and I learn a few thing watching them. Good forum.

Awesome. I took the ASVAB my senior year of high school. (1985) The guy told me that I scored in the "top 10 percent of the top 1 percent". I continued playing trumpet...

Thank you Mark. Always a pleasure! Rich.

I reccall years ago a friend had an old Browniñg pump .22 that jammed up. Took me hours to figure out how to take it apart and than more time putting it back together I felt better years later after reading a book that said those guns are an SOB to work on.

Thank you for sharing Mark. A pleasure as always

I really enjoy your videos overall but these where you share of yourself remind me of so many folks that have passed and how they shared of themselves, what a great gift!

A true craftsman, thank you for the wonderful information. I learn more and more from the videos and information you take the time to provide to us!

Usually I can talk customers out of repairs on cheap guns, but not one guy. Earlier this year he contacted me about fixing the stock and forearm of his old Wards Western Field 530A side-by-side. Both were cracked and oil soaked. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wanted to preserve it because it was a family heirloom. I ended up removing all of the wood finish, soaking out the oil, inserting brass pins, embedding oak dowel rods, and epoxying and clamping the cracks that were too thin to pin. Then I gave the action a much needed cleaning and unboogered a couple of screw heads in the process. The metal finish was okay, so he agreed I should leave it as it was. I guess he was happy with the way it turned out, but I never would have recommended it.

Great video(s) sir. I'm not a gunsmith but every milsurp I own has been stripped, cleaned and checked by me. I've done rebuilds, refits and repairs. I also reload for every gun I own. However I would NEVER perform any of these things on another shooters weapons. That's why it's a hobby, not a profession for me. Respect to all those who take on that big responsibility.

GO NAVY !! I'm sure you were the most unforgettable person that they meet in the Navy for a lot of people .

This was one of my favorite episodes.

Mark, thanks for taking your valuable time to share and answer questions! I enjoy this forum and know it these have to be rare due to time constraints. I would love to see more about your tools and techniques that you can share. Thank you again for answering my questions!

Thank you, Mark!

Thank you Mr Novak for sharing your thoughts and skills. I take onboard a lot of what you show and apply it to the restoration of 17th and 18th century British swords. I also just recently hand filed a delicate steel smallsword hilt from steel stock for a prototype training sword. The end result was excellent. Your videos gave me the confidence to try this as well as the multiple replacement wooden grip cores I am now doing.

From a fellow submariner, thank you for your service.Love your work and your videos.

Liked hearing you talk your story....probably not as much as you like hearing yourself talk but still enjoyable!

Always enjoy these videos Mark. A little of your history and wisdom are always welcomed. A lot of what I do in the guitar repair world is part electrician,part wood worker and full time troubleshooter. Mainly fixer of mistakes by people that have no business trying to fix a guitar.

I always learn something valuable with any of your vids.

Nice Rodney Dangerfield joke in the beginning!

Thank you Mark I look forward to your videos I have learned so much. I'm not a Gunsmith but been a hunter all my life in Alaska. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your Family and crew. 🇺🇸

I’m a millwright that works on a 220” reversing aluminum mill. While I will probably never have most of these beautiful old guns in my hands, your methods and practices give me great ideas and inspire me for my own projects.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Recently picked up an 88/05/35 Turkish Mauser with some "deferred maintenance" issues. Put together a water tray and made some Mauser soup. Rust went away and looks pretty darn good. Thanks again.

"The mind can only absorb what the ass can endure." Out of everything said today by Mark this phrase is the funniest and at the same time the most profound. Tobacco killed both my parents with lung cancer and my Grandfather with emphysema so as far as I'm concerned all the cigars displayed here are all sh*t. I bought a numbering machine from a company in Santa Fe Springs, CA in the 1980s and after the purchase the owner tried to push onto me a Cuban cigar the Cohiba when they weren't legal and I refused it mainly because I didn't smoke at the time and still don't and now I'm 67 years old. I have other health issues due to getting hit by an SUV recently when, I was walking across a street at the crosswalk.

Oh man, that LA class sub story is awesome. My grandfather had just started his new job as a professor of electrical engineering when he got drafted by the Navy. Instead of using his position to get out of it, he went in. When he finished basic, instead of getting orders to a ship, he got shipped to New Jersey and spent WWII building and designing electrical systems on subs.

Best Sunday morning video EVER. Thanks, Mark. You remind me of several wonderful influences on my life, most now gone.

Mark...you are a treasure and much appreciated on this end. Thank you for a most entertaining segment and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Love hearing stories about the electrical and mill work. Currently an electrician for Sierra pacific lumber get to see some pretty awesome breakage

Manton. I had one in my hands some 30 yrs ago. It was in a fire and the stock was marked - minor damage. I meant to place all the parts under glass and just enjoy them. The barrels were paper thin. But in places the swirls were a sight to see. Thank you! I figure this is a way to work with my gunsmith. Hand him a $1000 - and if it hits $250 in the pot - ask and I will top up to $ 1G again. And I don't expect anything for 24 months. Any change - I will take in cigars! Cheers Sir!

Just appreciating watching what you do when you do it. Reminds me of hanging out as gunshops/gunsmiths as a kid with my dad. Always fascinating. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 God Bless Sir, Merry Christmas to you and yours.

I’ve learned so much and intend to “Do the maintenance!” on a few cheap old guns to gain some experience. Once that’s accomplished I intend to move on to some nicer specimens! One thing I’ve never seen you deal with is color case hardened parts. Boil and card? Something else??

Thank you and the crew for your knowledge, entertainment, and willingness to share it!

I appreciate the book recommendations!

God bless you Mark. I wish there were more teachers like you! I found out as an adult, I'm interested in all the things I used to hate as a kid in school. Chemistry, physics, mathematics, machining etc. Just because our teachers didn't cared one bit, if their teaching is inspiring for the kids or not.

Knowledge nuggets by Mark! Thank you very much. Love the dry humor.

Greetings to you sir. In my trade, there are things I don't even show my customers, leave alone random people on the internet. A set of skills is only as marketable as it is uncommon. An old timer who used to frequent my favourite bar put it this way: No one is going to pay you to brew tea in a teabag, sonny. The things we all know how to do don't get you paid. Its the things you know that few do, that bring in the bacon.

OUTSTANDING Content Mark!! I thank you for your willingness to give to the world so that we will have more in the future. What you provide is just a scratch on the surface, but thank you for that scratch... God Speed on the next scratch.

Growing up in Sheffield UK I've been lucky enough to meet and befriend a few of the last "little mesters" true masters of their trade who understood what to pass on to equip a generation, listening to you Mark is familiar for that reason. Also, Zooey, Mary Ann and Amy (Mayim)..... I second that motion👍