This is how you can tell a true old school gunsmith from a wannabe ... making a part from a hunk of metal to replace a missing or broken one. Outstanding as always Mark!

Mark, My Grandfather was born in Pentwater MI in 1898, came to Detroit as a child and went to work for Ford when he was 16. He became a tool and die maker so metal working was his life. I know he would really appreciate what you do.

Mark, I rarely would sit and watch a hour long video on KZfaq. But when it comes to your channel, you are so precise and articulate in your descriptions, not to mention your true craftsmanship. It's a pleasure to be part of the journey down the rabbit hole. Thank you sir. P.s. Bob was my great Uncle, does that count...lol.

Mark, you truly are a talented man. I want to give you a tip that you may have already figured out, but I did not see you using it. I have a fairly large, medium power magnet, that I keep in a zip lock bag. I use this to clean up the metal shavings from my work bench. I slide on a "fold and seal" sandwich bag prior to use. then I can remove the sandwich bag keeping all the metal shavings in that, and throw them in the trash. it may help you in your quest to keep those little shavings out of the action.

Great video gents. The Shark week thing made laugh. Don't ever change Mark , the dry humor is priceless mate.

You are amazing Mark. Your work is absolutely fascinating and a real pleasure to watch your magic! You never disappoint

I typically won't do most small parts replication because most customers don't understand the amount of detail work and greatly undervalue the time involved.

Many people can't imagine how many times you have to assemble and the reassemble, and then dismantle and refit, and then, etc., etc. to make a think fit closely and work properly. It's an art, an art for the patient and those who think several steps ahead. Well done.

Thank you for sharing Chief

Nice job. You're right about the triggers having a little wiggle room. If they don't have some play you don't know how much pressure is on the sear.

Such a great channel! love your content, style, and humor. Ive been fixing my great grandfathers rusted out Parker since i tore it down (as an 18 y.o.) in 2011 as time tooling and skills permit, and you have inspired me to make the push to get that one done. It has needed a replacement unobtanium sear and i have just finished making it from scratch with files and a hobby lathe. 🍺

Love that Mark doesn’t hesitate to call out BS he’s seen through the years. I don’t doubt he tries to instill that mentality in his apprentices, but I sure hope they’ve all absorbed the very same mentality.

So many tips and advice that can be used in anything in life you dont have to be a gun guy to appreciate Marks skill...

10 solid minutes of video content on how to remove ONE SCREW. That's why I consider every video of yours to be a master class.

I love watching your videos. You have a gift teaching everyone wants but few have it you do. Someone once famous said be careful you might learn something. Your teaching easily transfers to many other tasks. Thank you

Thanks you! This is why I love guns. It’s part engineering, part artistry and the fiddly parts are where the professional excels. You are an artist and an engineer! Thank you so much for sharing your experience, love of engineering and flair of personality! I find you videos so engaging, rewarding and energizing. Few things in this time give me the renewal that your videos do! I am thankful for your work! Please continue!

watching you fabricate this trigger taught me so much. Same with all the spring fab you do as well. I love these so much, the info you pass on is a national treasure, Thank you!!

I enjoy working on SxS's, they are basically two separate guns, that must play well together, if that doesn't happen the intimate dance won't occur as it's supposed to. I should also add a lot of things are happening on both sides at once and they share common parts of the mechanism, that have to work in their correct function, position and timing, it's knowing/understanding how it all plays together that must be obeyed. Excellent video, skillsets beyond compare. Well Done, Weilder of the files, Master of the hammer, Shepard of the torch and Lord of the Vise. Wizard Level Work !!!!!!!

Love every one of your videos. Not a gunsmith, just an admirer of great skill and expertise. More, please.

I've made very short right angle screwdrivers out of paint can openers. They already have the 90 degree bend, you just have to do some grinding to make them fit the screw slot.

Absolutely phenomenal work Mark! This man is a true GUNSMITH!! I’m just an armorer. There’s a huge difference. Those that buy an AR upper and attach to an AR lower, you’re NOT a gunsmith OR an armorer, ftr. Once again, Excellent work sir!! Absolutely love watching you work and you make the extensive effort you do look extremely easy. A true master!! God bless~

Always Outstanding work Mark! I continue to learn from you. Your videos are interesting, informative and fun! Perfect combo!

Thank you guys so much for documenting all of this. I know it is a lot of work to produce. We NEED to preserve knowledge

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us again. Every time someone watches me put an adjustable wrench on a 1/4 hex bit then tap it with a hammer a few times and turn, they look at me like I am some kind of goon. Moving on. Craftsman makes a set of mini ratchet handles for 1/4 hex bits, that have a nice head for hammer taps. Also I was given a promotional gear wrench brand ratcheting wrench 1/4in key chain that works a treat. I believe a local Autoparts store ( Oriley's) sells a Titan brand set of 1/4 hex bits that come with an extremely low profile handle.

HaRRR It's Shark Week!

Love your segments, I have been working on firearms for near on 45 years, I am not a qualified gunsmith but rather a mechanical engineer who loves simply working on guns of my own and that of friends and club members. I have forged, machined and even hand filed many parts over the years, mate I have to say I am impressed with your rational and skill set, great work👍

I may never work on my double barrel but all the learning tips you show can be put to good use in other repairs. Have patience.

That receiver engraving reminds me of the Beretta over & under my father bought in 1970. It still looks as beautiful today as it did when he bought it.

I love to witness craftsmanship! This is my first time to watch you work and it will not be my last! Thank you sir!

That's a very nice shotgun. I'm glad you saved it Mark! Great work as usual!

I started gunsmithing/custom rifle making making parts for obsolete guns by had with files, drill bits, hacksaw and a hammer. When you learn jn that way you learn exactly why a certain part was made the way it was and how thy part contributes to the overall function of the gun. This is another excellent video for @Anvil

Nice demo to Hollow Grind your screwdriver blades. So many jewels in this one. Thanks for the content.

Your my favorite KZfaqr if you posted every week I'd watch every video. Your skill is unmatched and the video quality is perfect. Your more entertaining then any show or video out there.

The similarity of the perpendicularity to the dependability of the propensity for the singularity of a screwslotcity has to match the tenacity of smutch to grundgiblity for Mark to match the parallelity.

Got to love a 16! Nice work Mark.. my only disagreement would have been to just centre pop the pivot hole in the trigger and drill it later using an undersize drill and then bring it to size with a reamer.. I find it easier to scribe radius and distances from a punch mark than from the centre of a hole!

I know you said that you hack sawed some of the material away, but I was taught by a super craftsman blacksmith, Tom Latane', (from Pepin Wisconsin) to do that sort of thing with a jeweler's saw. Using that tool, you can do the work with much more precision and you'd be surprised at how fast it goes! I've even done such work in steel as thick as 3/8".

I was able to conserve several Mausers and an Enfield lec carbine that belonged to Fred Barnes. Those will stay in my family for many years to come thanks to Mr Novak and the crew at anvil

Nice work. Always a pleasure to watch you work. Only wish there were more episodes, but it is what it is and I am sure these take a long time to make and edit which takes away from actually doing gunsmithing. Thanks for sharing.

Driver bits are cheap enough that even if doing a tip grind flat gets skewed, get another and try again. It's good practice to develop steady holding and such. Tools while meant to last, are also necessarily disposable if the need arises. Beyond that, I think I had a small bundle of flat back angled screwdrivers and hat I picked up from a estate sale. Three dollars for a set of six flat blade tight reach deals. I think the longest shank was from blade edge to bar maybe just a smidge over 1/8in. Blade width went from narrower than eyeglass screw to about as wide as the shank was long. Younger brother has them and tells me that they're the most handy pieces he's ever used for working at his job. Seeing the first tiny screw removed made me think of them. Anyway, a most interesting watch this episode has been.

I am not a gunsmith nor will I ever be. I am a tinker. I watched this in amazement. So much to learn. Subscribed.

We need to record as much of this man as possible.. till he can't put out any more knowledge...

Mark, fantastic work and explanation of procress. Your ability to simplify and distill design and critical detail is amazing! Thank you

Mark you outta come up here to Gatlinburg the next time we have the craftsmans fair. Better yet. You should move up this way or get a shop. If I lived closer to ya I'd be begging for you to let me be an apprentice for you. It's been my dream to get into this professionally for over half of my life. Especially after how great it felt when I for the first time crafted my own trigger spring for my heritage 22 revolver. Awesome to watch someone make a trigger from scratch

Wow, Mark just fantastic metal work. Remanufacturing that trigger was a tremendous amount of metallurgy. Just perfect!!!!! Thanks Mark.

Привет Марк! Опять порадовал новым видео. Есть чему поучиться у тебя. Даже болт выкрутить грамотно нужны знания. Привет с солнечного Норильска..

Love these, always interesting to see the small nitty gritties of what goes into various types of repairs.

Thanks Mark! Love spending time with you in the shop!

Absolutely, Mark, Robert is most definitely my mother's brother! Another fascinating presentation, enjoyed it immensely!

Outstanding! It's so sad that in 50 years there won't longer be anyone around that will be able to do that!

Amazing craftsmanship. A pleasure to watch.

I could have really used this video a year ago just for that tip on getting the sear away from the hammer. I have a very similar sxs that I conserved and the hammers and main springs were a huge bear to deal with. I'm also very sad that we didn't get to see the entire finishing process on the new trigger. I wanted to see it shine like new!

Hi Mark, this is a great view into the world of a Metal Artisan ! You did an awesome job, showing us all the why's and how's. On re-creating a damaged or missing part for a firearm. The Swiss master's couldn't have done better ! Thanks again for sharing your knowledge !!

Your the man, man. Thanks again for taking the time out of your life and sharing your vast knowledge.

Excellent video sir. I made the mistake of completely disassembling one of these Anson and Dealy actions on JP Sauer double 12 once… and only once. I know there’s a special tool called a “cramp” for putting those back together. They’re extremely hard to find though. I believe it can be done with a block of wood and a good hip thrust if needed though 😂

It's art. It's science. It's artistic science! Thank you, Mr. Novak.

As always, it is a pleasure to watch you working. This is a kind of art. Thanks for sharing with us. Best regards from Germany.

I've been waiting for a new video. Thanks

For all the small pins, parts and screws, I have several small tuna tines or sardine flat tins to avoid losing the mini-bits of the bench into the floor void. All the rest is excellent...good operation. DocAV

Shark week joke still had me rolling 🤣

I love that I was a broke kid because I learned to make things like this only because I couldn't afford buying them. This skill has come in handy as an adult many times.

Fantastic video Mark!. Brings back so many memories of ruffed grouse

Ah, just what I needed on a Friday night, a little Anvil.

Thank you, Mark, for showing us that real gunsmithing isn't putting a parts kit into a stripped AR lower, but actually fabricating intricate parts from raw steel and sweat.

Fantastic craftsmanship and also excellent instructions and inspiration. Thanks for your hard work in making these videos and sharing your knowledge with us sir.

This video was one of your finest. Working in a. machine shop for many years ,I appreciate the skill it takes to do this work. It’s not difficult but not easy. Very nice . How about looking at my Baker Batavia Leader 16 gauge.

OUTSTANDING work sir!!! Thank you for the parting of some knowledge on your part to us. Greatly appreciate the trigger work... I would love to see the rib work on the bottom of the barrels. more to come!!.

Great work and demonstration. Thank Mr. Novak. Love your channel...

this channel is a wealth of knowledge. i always enjoy your videos

Great job. I always enjoy watching and learning from a tru master like you. Thanks

Old school of mechanic! Thank you!

Good job Mark! I like the way you rounded the metal for the trigger. Keep up the good work my friend!

A national treasure. I pray the powers that be on KZfaq don’t further reduce his ability to teach us mere mortals.

Simply outstanding. Worthwhile time spent watching. Bravo!

When setting a washer or spacer down inside an action like that spacer between the pair of triggers, lay a U-shaped piece of safety wire in the slot and drop the spacer in the U. Bring the ends of the wire together and you now have a handle to manipulate the position of the spacer.

Mr. Novak, you say that ALL of us can do what you just did. I have done gunsmithing on my own collection, including some old Crescent / American Gun Company Double twelves from the turn of the last century. But, in no way could I EVER do the sort of precise craftsmanship you have just done ! As my grandfather used to say, " It's easy to teach a Snake to Tapdance - AFTER you have taught him to tie his own shoes......"

Love the old powerkraft screwdriver handle. Those are my favorite screwdrivers ever.

I was looking forward to seeing a closeup of the trigger, blued and polished against the original. Outstanding work Sir as always. The owner of that should be very happy to have it back in service.

Outstanding job - as usual - on my favorite kind of shotgun; a beautiful SxS. My wallet, however, is cringing in my pocket right now, at the price of this kind of uber-professional repair. I hope the owner of that gun REALLY appreciates what it took to get it to where it is now...

I've made a trigger but cold forging with a ballpean hammer by leaning the front edge of the flat stock. It took two triggers to make the one i wanted and the o e that worked, I'm no gunsmith but i got it done.

One of your most satisfying presentations.

27.54. It's a Doggie! A Puppy Trigger. Mark, you are an artist.

one whole hour just like that, your videos are great man!!!

Great job my friend!!! Your a true craftsman

Best channel on the 'tube. Thanks for sharing- you are a national treasure.

I had an old 1950s 10ga side by side that would fire like you discussed. But only if you pulled the back trigger first. So I sent it to my gunsmith and had it fixed.

Another fascinating insight into gun repair. Thanks Mark.

Hey Mark, that was an amazing repair! And, btw, I happened to notice toward the end when you were doing the final check on the safety/trigger play that it was a 16 ga.! Perfect! Oh and I loved the comment about Shark Week, lol. I was thinking early on they looked exactly like one!!!!!

I enjoy watching a master at work.

Thank you for sharing your expertise.

Another great video! I really enjoy watching you make parts like this!!

About 2’17”, when the diagram of the trigger is just starting it looks like it’s going to turn out as a nice picture of a dog as drawn by Thurber.

I’m feeling pretty confident that most your viewers are all down to tear a 60 year old gun apart. And the rest of the views are from guys that already started and hit the uh oh moment and here for help.

Others might be able to do that, but not this guy lol. Great video of a Master Smith doing what he does.

Please give a break down of time involved and cost for this type of repair. Most people think this work is cheap and easy to do. Most projects like that Beretta are not cost effective to fix. What is a used “rebuilt” Silver Hawk worth? How tight is the action?What do the firing pins look like? What if a hammer spring breaks? How many rounds “estimating” can put through it before it breaks again?

Glad you made the shark week joke. You read my mind, Mark.

Great work with a lot of patience, I have a Golden Snip from early 1960s

In my case Mark Bob surely was my uncle as was Martin and LeeWayne. Excellent video guys,sweet trigger job on that Berretta double.

The fact that this channel doesn't have a million-plus subs always bums me out. There are very few people on this planet that can do everything Mark can, and once those men are gone there will be nobody around to fix these pieces of history. Hopefully his videos will live on forever, but I think we all know YT will eventually ban all this content. Hope people are archiving this stuff somewhere.

Outstanding work-Good job Mark

Again wonderful! Thanks Mark, always appreciated! :)