Master Gunsmith Ken Fixes a Broken Forend Spring Step by Step | Over the Gunsmith’s Shoulder

Step inside the bench of Master Gunsmith Ken Brooks with Gene Kelly, President of the American Gunsmithing Institute, in this exclusive episode of Over the Gunsmith’s Shoulder. You’ll watch real, unfiltered gunsmithing in action — as Ken diagnoses, repairs, and explains each step of the process. This isn’t theory. It’s the real work of a master craftsman showing you what decades of experience look like. If you want to think and work like a pro, this session shows the inspection, part fabrication, fit, and function check that separate guesswork from craftsmanship. If you’re serious about becoming a professional gunsmith — or just want to go deeper into the craft — this series gives you a front-row seat to how the experts think, troubleshoot, and repair firearms with precision and skill. What You’ll Learn: How to diagnose mechanical issues fast Real repair workflow from a professional bench Pro tips for avoiding costly mistakes The mindset behind expert-level craftsmanship Timestamps 00:00 — Intro with Gene Kelly 01:29 — Suspect broken spring and initial checks 02:59 — Confirm failure and plan the repair 04:31 — Intake notes and repair scope 05:59 — Prep parts and peening strategy 07:30 — Move to vise and tooling setup 09:00 — Lathe and thread considerations 10:30 — Controlled material removal 12:00 — Pin vs punch choices for drift work 13:30 — When to machine a precise pin 15:00 — Freeing a tight component safely 16:30 — Assess length and fit tolerances 17:59 — Edge cleanup and deburr 19:30 — Progressive bending and shaping 21:01 — Straighten the major bend and refine 22:31 — Production vs one-off repair logic 24:02 — Final bend and seat alignment 25:31 — Fit feels right, final checks and wrap