Complete Hand-Built Rifles by Bruce Thom (Bat Machine)
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- Опубликовано: 23 янв 2025
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Can you imagine building a rifle from scratch (including the action) in High School shop class? That's exactly what Bruce Thom of Bat Machine did when he was just 16 years old! In this story, we'll look at some of his early rifle builds, and a recent one too!
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Bruce might not remember me, but I met him at the '97 Super Shoot. I met Tom Dickson and Butch Fisher at a match in Minnesota. They invited me to load under the shade of their camper awning for the Super Shoot at Kelbly's. Getting to hang out with the three of them was great fun that week. Thank you for the video.
I am sorry you had to meet Butch!
LOL, he was a character, but definitely made for some good times!
I am totally floored by his ingenuity... Literally the day after I retired after 27 years in the Canadian Armed Forces (infantry) I was sitting in a trade school to complete a machinist course.
Theodore "Ted" Karagias (American Rifle Company) and Bruce Thom are the guys who inspire me.
A huge thank you for that incredible interview. 🤩
Bruce is a mechanical genius. I am fortunate to own 2 of his actions (Model B and 3L). Great video.
These are interviews and stories that we love to hear about... Thank you
I am 40 yo and just starting my research on the gunsmithing world. I felt like shit to know that he was building rifles when I was pretty much starting to shoot fire arms. The man is a genius indeed. God bless you guys!
my first build that i still got a old 1917 eddystone made my own stock than glass bedded it and permantly glued it to the action good thing it still shoots 3/4" moa all day long i,am 60 years old i built it when i was 16
I'm 22 anyway I could learn how to do it.
Well, now I have some new life goals!
I guess I better start looking for a lathe.
Bruce's shop teacher story reminds me of my own. In grade 8 when we were required to take shop class, they randomly assigned us one teacher to teach us ALL the disciplines: Wood/Metal/Drafting/Electronics/Auto. I was in the Electronics teacher's class. He was a brilliant Electronics Engineer (having designed RCA's first transistor radio) but didn't know much about metal or woodworking, and even less about auto shop than most of the students.
What I would give to be a fly on the wall & learn from Bruce!!! 1st off, to be self sufficient & successful in machining is still a dream of mine! One step forward, 3 steps back!!! Maybe one day, I can obtain a lathe?
The common misconception is that a bolt action is a simple thing, nothing is further from the truth. I've built a few from scratch, and it's not as simple it would seem. Great Video that shows what an awesome craftsman Bruce is, making that with hand tools is something else!
People say the same about lever actions when they are actually more complicated than bolt actions.
Really cool to see! I bought my first lathe when I was 12 years old after saving for a year delivering news papers. But even before then I was building guns, starting with muzzle loaders, then a 6.5-284 bolt action, then my 300 win mag, and many others in between. Currently building a 475 A square short on a m77 action
I loved watching this!!!
Mind blowing isn’t it?????
...this is exactly how John Moses Browning began...in his father's shop..made his first firearms from scraps with hand tool..waaay before he ever had modern...for that day...machine tools...
Super cool. I was making gun boxes out of wood in High School and everyone thought that project was nuts at the time. Wish I had done this!
Pretty amazing story Bruce! I’ve always had a lot of respect for guys who can just build things, rifles, lathes, whatever it may be, that’s impressive. Love your actions, I own two.
OUTSTANDING! I was so doggone impressed by his story.
Thanks for the video! We used to head down to Spokane a couple times a year to pick up reloading and fishing stuff. This was the late '80's and Canucks could still get reloading bits from one of the White Elephant stores. The Gunatorium was on Argonne I want to say - always a great place to visit.
Fun.Tastic vídeo Gavin!!. I'm pretty sure most of us / your followers, looking forward for (at least!) a sequel of this one. Many thanks to you both for such a great production & inspiring chat!!..
🤗🇺🇲🙏🙏🙏
And here I thought I was slick by breathing life into grizzled old Mausers. Respect.
Bruce mentioned "Ed's Gunatorium" which was a huge gun store in Spokane, Washington. I was a kid in the 60s and went there with my dad. I think the place had about 3000 used rifles, it was quite a place.
Yea it was like walking into heaven for me when I was a kid!
Rifles from match locks to modern, barrel blanks, stock blanks, gloriously unorganized.
Best UR fireside chat... thanks for posting this Gavin! An FYI, I am now proud owner of 2 ea. BAT Machine actions.. waiting for barrels.. thanks you two.
Absolutely fascinating man what a genius. The rifles he builds are like a work of art. Amazing
I love stuff like this. I grew up in a machine shop, my family owned one since 1942, but no one would teach me how to run any of the equipment. Long story short, I ended up becoming a damn tradesman anyways as a welder. Not much I can't do in the way of gunsmithing anymore from wood working to metal finish/fitment, except lathe and mill work, and it bothers me every day. Maybe one day I'll take the initiative to finally start learning how to operate lathes and mills.
Doing basic stuff on old school manual machines isn't too tough to learn imo, mostly just knowing a few simple formulas for speeds and so on and how to set up, level/align, etc. I'm lost on cnc though.
It's NEVER too late to do a fresh start!!..
🇺🇸💪🙏🙏🙏
wow what an inspiration, I'm sure a young lad or young lady out there is watching this that's inspired to live their dreams, wonderful stuff, you both are gifted and humble, that in it self is an inspiration
Nice....if these old guns could talk......i just heard wonderfull stories of those old guns. This is an awesome video, Thank You Gavin.
Great video! It makes me want to buy a BAT Machine action that much more.
Gavin, totally enjoyed the video. Back about 20 years ago or so I tried to get Bruce to do a Falling Block action for me and he said he no longer made them. Still would like to have one but would chamber it in 300 HAMR not the original .222 I would have built.
What a great guy! Thanks for sharing these insider viewpoints from a real leader in precision.
I've got a couple of full custom rifles, a BAT Machine action is my holy grail of rifles
Very interesting. I am a toolmaker/machinist that can understand the machinery he is using. We are pretty close in age it sounds like too, as I graduated high school in 81.
Bruce reminds me of the late Carl Kenyon, who made a .22 RF falling block from a leaf spring back in the day. Excellent content.
Excellent video, it goes to show if you have a vision and a passion ................ it can work !!
My dad was a part-time gunsmith his world revolved around Colt SA revolvers, but he also managed
a few custom Mauser rifles with handmade stocks, he preferred birds-eye maple they were a thing
of beauty..................
Very impressive, an American success story. I am glad your business turned out so well. Your passion and hard work pushed you forward. Thanks for the video, inspiration for all.
Well said!
🤩 Wow, he is amazing and truly very talented. Thanks for sharing!
I've got tears in my eyes. How is it possible to go into the future without people like Bruce. No-one of the last generation seems to have the determination and ingenuity to CREATE anymore.
Funny the older guys refuse to teach.
Fascinating
So interesting.
Thank you for sharing your young start.
You have been a great thinker. Appreciate this interview and info.
Gavin thank you for all you do and sharing with all of us and those who helped you.
Thanks for sharing this interview brother, enjoyed it much.👍❤️
Great Interview, Hopefully it may inspire Some Young Kids to get into the sport or trade. Thats what got me into the Machinist trade, Traded a tool box for a Savage 12 gauge Bolt action rifle that was broken, worked on it for a few minutes everyday in High school machine shop until it worked. Never built a complete rifle like Bruce, never Had the time....
AWESOME interview! Thanks so very much for sharing UR!!!
We were always trying to figure out a way to shoot a .22 cartridge out of one of those dime store cap gun revolvers! My friends dad found all the .22 rounds we had stolen out of his basement and, luckily, that was the end of that! Would have been a hand down if we would have got it to work! Then I had to move on to slam firing 12 gauge shells borrowed from my grandpa!
This made me happy
Manual made. Love it!
I spent many an hour perusing and occasionally purchasing from Ed’s Gunatorium. Winter on Argonne hill could be dicet, but worth the trip!
Ask Bruce if he's ever considered building a single shot and repeating rimfire action.
If he did, I bet it would be something special! 👍🏼
This is an awesome video, enjoyed it greatly!
Great video. Would have loved even more details on the mechanisms of the early ones. Full diameter bolt was smart to avoid cutting long lug raceway. BAT makes great actions.
The man has the natural skills for working with metal thats for sure.
Awsome video, super talented person!!!
That's pretty damn good with a drill press ,file and hack saw.
Great episode. That is some crazy talent.
Fantastic story!!’ I love Lester Bruno BAT Dasher. 😺
Nice video, BAT makes great actions!
Cool story and wonderful builds
Love hearing stories of the inland northwest. Cool.
What a fantastic story. Thx
Awesome video
This was a really cool video, thanks Gavin
Talented, well done!
#2 was high school so #1 was elementary or middle school ....this guy is a national hero
It's guys like him who created our civilization.
What a great video great story
I’ve been wanting to build an exact half scale original Henry rifle in .22 short, I’ve got an atlas lathe but I need a bigger mill now.
I heard somewhere that bat used an in house build hydraulic machine for broaching the raceways? is that true?
That was great storyto hear 👏
wow Thanks. J.
What material of receiver and bolt ??
Loos like a few others have probably asked but I'm going to anyway, anyway - Would Bruce ever consider spinning up a line of quality falling blocks to go with the repeater lines?
Cool video. Kudos to you guys
Can you make a black powder needle pin rifle?
I’ve been having an extremely gloriously stupid idea of doing a wildcat. Necking down a 300WM to 6mm and just seeing what velocities and accuracy I can get
Buy a few extra barrels, load development will eat the barrel up before you get to shoot it much !
LOL!
Was about to buy another brand action but now I'm thinking bat, I had no idea.
Great episode.
Great story! I'm getting old enough that I'm thinking of trying some benchrest rifle. Maybe I should get an order placed for a typical BR action from BAT?
Seems like a sharp guy who loves his work who runs a small business. Don’t see any reason why not to buy from Bat 😁
I would really like to see his most prized rifle. I mean the best work he's ever done personal rifle.
Nice work.
Good interview.
Very impressive. I. Inspired
Real men of genius... Mr. Build a rifle from files and hacksaws. This Bud's for you.
Amazing history !!!!
This is so cool
I have a Winchester.22lr. Model 69-A. I got it from my Uncle. I want to put a scope on it, however I do not want to drill any holes. How can I achieve that?
If a guy wanted to get in to building his own rifles what school(s) or training would you recommend?
Awesome !!!
I get the impression his 'no idea what I was doing' and mine are vastly different.
Any chance you could find out where he got the quilted maple wood for the falling block? I have a few pieces and a stock from a tree that looks just like that, and my family is from CDA. Just curious if he got that from my grandfather. (Slim chance but possible)
A toolmaker friend of mine had gotten it from his dad over in the Tacoma Washington area.
@@brucethom4957 that’s where the wood from my grandfather came from. It looks almost exactly the same. Very cool!
How did he cut the raceways?
Those are full diameter bolts, they don’t need a full length race way, was able to reach I. With a long a 1/4 end mill, and then custom bushings and key way broach to clean ip the corners.
America! Man I love it!
Awesome!
Bruce have you ever successfully chambered a accurate K-Hornet? If so how accurate?
Keep up the interviews.
I have not done any K hornets.
Only the 17 ackley hornet of which I have built one for each of my daughters.
20 grain v max, 3900 +/- depending on rifle, average groups will be in the high .3 at 100.
Did you guys swap shirts?
Hahaha! I forgot my shirt on the trip, and Bruce wore his un-prompted :)
Wow! I wish I knew he was out there! I was just in Spokane and Seattle, delivering canoes and kayaks. If he’s into canoeing and picks up an Old Town Canoe or Kayak, I delivered it.
Great to see another fella doing well in the trade for sure! God bless, stay safe and take care! Single Shot! On RUclips and Daywolf on Rumble.🙏🎚🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾
Great story all that was missing was a beer and a campfire !
I want a 30-06 made
I take my hat off for you wise men :) Thanks
May I ask if a Mauser K98 from 1941 with caliber 3006 and "kongsberg"(Norwegian) barrel has such bad steel that I should not shoot with it? It provides groups of 13 mm at 100 meters with 5 shots with factory ammo Norma. An the American said that today's steel is much better and should I stop shooting with it? It's sported by a gunsmith who says I have a super rifle! What do you guys think?
Hell ya!
Love it,can't afford it
Can you imagine the shitstorm that would result from building a gun in high school shop today?
LOL, I still scratch my head in wonderment that they let me build those at school!
Different times for sure
Wow
Could be Royal Nonesuch in like 30 years time lol
Интересный мужик.
если бы я , в свое время попытался изготовить у себя дома что - нибудь подобное, меня бы привлекли к уголовной ответственности.
Good thing Bruce’s mom wouldn’t buy him a .22 rifle.
Imaging this happening today if you did it in a modern high school your would be in some deep trouble
👍💡☀️⭕❤️⤴️🎵