Your most useful gunsmith tool

[red_zr24x4]

A butter knife.

It works on any size screw, including philips if it's pointy, and if it has the heavy metal handle, you can use it with a nail to tap pins out.

Uncle Bob is that you??

 

[Kpquinn9100]

I guess it depends on what you usually work on? With an ar15 style rifle, I’d say you can’t beat a multi tool wrench. With an ak, id say a press is necessity. With a 1911, definitely a Dremel. “Drop in parts.” Lol.

 

[steif]

this..

 

[Cree]

In all seriousness, aside from "real" tools, I cannot work without a chop stick close by. I use them for SOOO many things - knocking out slide stop pin, removing firing pin stop, lapping/polishing, etc. I always nab a few extra at the Chinese restaurants....

 

[VERT]

In all seriousness, aside from "real" tools, I cannot work without a chop stick close by. I use them for SOOO many things - knocking out slide stop pin, removing firing pin stop, lapping/polishing, etc. I always nab a few extra at the Chinese restaurants....

Hey a tool I can afford. Will have to try them.

 

[deeno3432]

For me its a basic punch set.

 

[Trigger Time]

In all seriousness, aside from "real" tools, I cannot work without a chop stick close by. I use them for SOOO many things - knocking out slide stop pin, removing firing pin stop, lapping/polishing, etc. I always nab a few extra at the Chinese restaurants....

HA! I swear I have pieces of chopsticks on my bench and in my toolbox.

 

[tcecil88]

By far, patience is the best tool. If you get into a hurry, springs and small parts start flying off into the great beyond, forever lost.
For me it's my Glock punch, then roll pin punches and small dead blow plastic hammer for my AR's. To me what you use most would depend on what you work on most. I work on Glocks, AR's, and then my shotguns and rifles last, in that order. I have started learning/modding my revolvers, which need a couple specialty tools as well.
I would say good quality roll pin punch set, regular punch set, Good gunsmith screwdriver set (I have the Wheeler set) and an assortment of plastic and brass hammers will get you going, then you can fill in with specialty tools as you lean toward one platform over others.
I am good with the mechanical aspect of firearms, but the woodworking/finishing and metalworking/finishing is a whole other animal to me.

 

[223 Gunner]

I'll admit that I have not read the entire thread.

My best "tool" is my brain, knowing when and when not to work on something.
I am very mechanical, but we all have our limits. I have done very little "gunsmith" type work, because I am not a gunsmith.