Industry began in 1937

The two nearly broken "old sockets" were carefully placed in the corner of the blacksmith's shop.

"Flint, scan and analyze these two rifles, highlighting damaged, worn, and missing parts. Assess the possibility of repair and provide repair or alternative solutions that are in line with current technological and material limitations." Chen Yuan focused his mind and issued the instructions to the Flint platform.

He was aware of the platform's limitations—it couldn't directly manufacture complete firearms and their core functional components, but analysis and guidance were permitted.

Chen Yuan was initially annoyed by the platform's limitation, but after thinking about it more deeply, he realized that this limitation also restricted his loneliness.

Many of these parts can be used in firearms.

For example, even if the platform cannot produce qualified gun barrels, it can still produce the mechanical equipment to process gun barrels.

Gun barrels can also be manufactured.

The platform is like a machine tool and material provider for an industry.

As long as it is provided with sufficient raw materials and electricity, an industrial system can be established.

If it can build an industrial system, then what guns and cannons can't it produce?

The problem is simply that we lack raw materials.

Without sufficient raw materials, even the best factories cannot function effectively.

Therefore, Chen Yuan was not in a hurry.

The light screen illuminated, clearly displaying the three-dimensional structural diagrams of the two rifles, with several parts highlighted to show varying degrees of damage or abnormalities.

A cold, synthesized voice then rang out:

[Analysis of the target object: Hanyang Type 88 rifle (a copy of the German Commission 1888 model) completed.]

[Condition: Severely worn, parts missing, functionality impaired.]

[List of core damaged/missing components and repair assessment:]

Barrel A: The front third of the rifling is severely worn, with slight bulging near the muzzle. Barrel B: The rifling is moderately and evenly worn, with corrosion on the inner wall.

Firing pins: Both rifle firing pins showed severe head wear and varying degrees of cracks.

Main spring: Its elasticity has severely deteriorated, and it is unable to provide sufficient power.

Shell-extracting hook: one is missing, and the other has severely worn and deformed hook teeth.

Dial: One dial gauge vernier is stuck and the scale is blurry; the entire dial gauge is loose.

Wooden stock/handguard: Multiple cracks, loose metal fittings.

Other small parts: such as missing or damaged pins or screws.

[Repair Plan]:

Key limitation: It is impossible to directly manufacture finished products of core functional components such as barrels and firing pins that are obviously used in firearms.

Feasible path: The platform can provide detailed material composition analysis, heat treatment process parameters, key dimensional tolerances and processing points for damaged parts.

Alternative processing solutions:

Barrel: New barrels cannot be manufactured.

Option A: Clean the bore and remove rust from the barrel B with minor wear, and attempt to manually ream and repair the slightly damaged areas.

Option B: Change the approach – combine the usable parts of the two guns.

The assessment confirmed that the rifling at the rear of barrel A was relatively intact. It was possible to try shortening barrel A, retaining the effective rear portion, re-machine the connector and muzzle device, and combine it with another relatively intact receiver.

This solution requires the platform to provide precise cutting and turning instructions, as well as drawings for newly manufactured connectors.

For key metal components, the platform provides material substitution suggestions, detailed machining drawings, and heat treatment process guidance.

The blank is manually processed by the operator, and then the processing capacity of the platform is used to assist in the process, followed by manual filing, grinding and heat treatment.

Heat treatment is crucial; a simple and controllable heating device must be set up, and the operation must be strictly carried out according to the temperature curve guided by the platform.

Wooden components: either repair by hand or find alternative wood to remake; the platform can provide outline drawings.

Calibration: After repair, the scale needs to be calibrated by playing a live drill or using an alternative method.

[Conclusion: Completely restoring the rifle to its original new condition is unrealistic. The goal should be to utilize existing spare parts, combined with platform guidance and newly manufactured replacement parts, to restore its basic firing function and reliability as much as possible, piecing together 1-2 usable rifles. The success rate depends on the operator's skill, material supply, and the precision with which the manufacturing process is executed.]

It contains a lot of information, but it is well-organized.

Chen Yuan took a deep breath and understood what he should do.

The flint platform is the most skilled "teacher" and "quality inspector," able to tell him the standard answer and the key to each step, but the specific "problem-solving process"—the meticulous hand forging, the heat treatment requiring keen eyesight and experience, the precise filing and grinding—must be completed by himself, the "apprentice."

"I can't make the whole thing, nor can I directly make the core components... but I can tell you how to mix the materials, how to judge the heat, how to measure the dimensions, and how to shape it... This is like giving me the secrets that the master craftsman has explored over decades." Chen Yuan's eyes gleamed with eager anticipation.

This is a huge challenge, but if successful, it will be of great significance.

This is not only about repairing the two guns, but also about mastering the core technological capabilities to repair, and even to a limited extent replicate, such key weapons in this era.

His first goal was to assemble what was arguably the most complete rifle possible. Using the relatively well-worn barrel B and receiver A as a base, he replaced or repaired usable parts salvaged from another rifle.

The first step is disassembly and cleaning.

He completely disassembled the two guns, carefully numbering and recording each part.

Using partially purified kerosene and simple homemade tools, they carefully removed carbon deposits, rust, and dirt.

The light screen on the flint platform lit up from time to time, indicating the tightening torque of a screw, the wear limit of a contact surface, or the free length standard of a spring.

After cleaning, the problem became clearer.

The wear and cracks on the firing pin are visible to the naked eye; the spring is weak and powerless; the extractor hook is either missing or worn out; and the scale is either stuck or wobbly.

The real challenge begins with forging a new firing pin.

The flint platform used a small portion of its energy to initially refine the steel into a billet that was close to the required size.

Then, it was Chen Yuan's turn to work.

In front of the newly refurbished, more temperature-controlled small forging furnace, Chen Yuan stood shirtless, his sweat glistening in the glowing furnace fire. He carefully controlled the temperature of the steel billet, repeatedly forging and shaping it with a small hammer.

Every hammer strike and every flip is executed in accordance with the fiber flow shown in the 3D image on the platform.

After rough forging, more refined processing begins.

Using a newly built foot-operated drill press that still smelled of fresh wood and lubricant, he carefully drilled the mounting hole and the guide hole for the firing pin tip on the rough blank.

This new machine is proving invaluable; compared to a hand drill, it has a more stable rotation speed and produces straighter holes.

After drilling, comes the long and tedious process of filing and grinding. Using files of different grits and oilstones, and comparing the dimensions and contours projected in real time on the flint platform, the rough forging is gradually shaped into a smooth, straight, and precisely sized firing pin.

This requires immense patience and a steady hand. Chen Yuan often works on it for half a day at a time, his eyes fixed on the ever-changing shape of the metal and the finely adjusted parameters on the light screen.

Of course, failure is perfectly normal for a novice like him.

But we have plenty of materials, so we just need to get started.

It took five days to finally produce a part that met the standards.

Next comes the crucial heat treatment.

Following the platform's instructions, he modified a simple small carburizing box and a temperature-controlled furnace for quenching and tempering using refractory clay and old iron cans.

The refined firing pin is wrapped in charcoal and a small amount of carbon-rich medium, then placed in a carburizing box and heated for dozens of hours to allow carbon elements to slowly penetrate into the steel surface.

Then comes the thrilling quenching process—rapidly immersing the bright orange-colored parts into a specific coolant.

With a hiss, white steam billowed out, and the fate of the part hung in the balance.

After quenching, the material becomes extremely hard but also extremely brittle. It must be tempered immediately, heated at a lower temperature for a longer period of time, to eliminate internal stress and adjust the balance between toughness and hardness.

Chen Yuan stared intently at the subtle changes in the color of the furnace fire, comparing it with the color temperature chart provided by the platform, afraid of being even slightly off.

Heat treatment is a combination of experience and science. If there is the slightest mistake, all previous efforts will be wasted, and the parts will either crack or become too soft.

The same applies to the making of shell-extracting hooks.

Chen Yuan didn't need to worry about manufacturing parts such as springs and missing small pins, as these were standard civilian parts and the platform could handle them.

He carefully glued and reinforced the crack in the stock with fish glue and homemade wooden wedges, and for the cracked handguard, he simply found a hardwood with a similar grain and made a new one according to the blueprints provided by the platform.

The barrel was handled with the utmost care.

He ultimately did not adopt the extremely risky reaming method, but instead followed the platform's suggested "cut-off and reuse" approach. He carefully measured and, guided by the laser-projected cutting lines on the platform, used a bow saw to extremely carefully cut off the severely worn front part of the barrel A from the damaged section, leaving about two-thirds of the rear section relatively intact.

Then, he needed to re-machine a muzzle clamp and a tail thread connector for the short barrel.

Threading is a delicate task. He used a modified simple wooden lathe (powered by human power) and a flint platform to adjust the feed rate in real time, bit by bit, to "gnaw" out threads that met the standards.

When he carefully screwed the newly made muzzle clamp and tail connector onto the shortened barrel and finally combined it with the selected receiver, the sense of accomplishment he felt was indescribable.

Finally, there is assembly and debugging.

Reassemble all the repaired or newly manufactured parts step by step, following the exploded view and assembly sequence provided by the platform.

Each step of the assembly process involves repeatedly checking whether the movement is smooth and whether the gaps are appropriate.

The protrusion of the firing pin, the preload of the spring, the gripping force of the extractor hook... all parameters are clearly visible under the "eye" of the platform, and are adjusted to their optimal state by Chen Yuan's clumsy yet increasingly stable hands.

Nearly a month had passed when the two Hanyang rifles, having undergone a "rebirth," finally appeared in their complete form on the worktable.

One of them was in the best condition and was classified as "Grade A" by Chen Yuan. The other was kept as "Grade B" for backup.

Chen Yuan did not have the conditions for live-fire testing, but following the "optical simulation method" guided by the platform, he used a simple aiming verification tool he made himself to repeatedly check the aiming consistency of a fixed target at a distance of 100 paces and adjusted the scale and front sight.

He also manually cyclically pulled the bolt to simulate feeding and ejecting spent cartridges, checking whether the entire mechanism operated smoothly and reliably.

"It's done." Chen Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at the heavy rifle in his hand, a product of his countless efforts and the wisdom of the flint platform. Its exterior remained simple and even showed signs of repair, but the core components inside had been completely renewed, and those fatal wear and tear and hidden dangers had been eliminated or replaced.

He carefully applied rust-preventive grease to the "Class A" gun and wrapped it in a clean coarse cloth.

The "Class B" gun and some remaining usable spare parts were also properly packed up.

Then, he asked Han Shitou to invite Wen Shizhou.

When Wen Shizhou arrived at the blacksmith's shop and saw the newly maintained rifle, surprise and admiration flashed in his eyes.

Although he wasn't an arms expert, he could tell that this gun was worlds apart from the pile of scrap metal he had seen before.

He took the gun, pulled the bolt, and heard a crisp, powerful metallic clang. He then pulled the trigger, and the firing pin struck with a crisp, clean sound.

"Brother Chen, this...this is really that 'old barrel' that's almost falling apart?" Wen Shizhou asked incredulously.

"Mr. Wen, one of them is repaired and should be able to fire and last. The other one has been cobbled together, and it might be useful as a spare or for militia training," Chen Yuan said, pointing to the "Class B" rifle next to him. "However, it would be best to have the troops test-fire it to see how accurate and reliable it really is. Some problems won't be discovered without live ammunition."

Wen Shizhou nodded solemnly: "I understand. Brother Chen, your skills... are truly amazing. If Representative Zhang and the others saw this, they would be overjoyed." He knew that this not only meant that the Eighth Route Army had one or two more usable rifles, but also that there might be a valuable key hidden in this remote mountain valley that could solve some of the ordnance repair problems of the front-line troops.

This is far more significant than simply providing bayonets and spearheads.

"I'm more comfortable with the tools now, and I've figured out a bit more of the tricks of the trade." Chen Yuan didn't elaborate on how difficult the process had been, but simply asked, "Mr. Wen, has there been any progress on our 'Justice Blacksmith Shop's' business of buying scrap iron and copper?"

"That's exactly what I was going to tell you." Wen Shizhou snapped out of his reverie. "After the notice was posted, the response from several nearby villages was quite positive. Some people have already inquired about the price and even brought over some broken hoes and old pots. However, the quantity is still small, and the quality is mixed. But there's some news..." He lowered his voice, "Representative Zhang sent someone to say that if we could find a way to get copper, they might be able to exchange it for something, or provide some clues. They're also worried about the bullets."

Copper! Chen Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Repairing firearms, manufacturing bullet reloading tools, upgrading generators... all the crucial future points to this word.

"Copper...is indeed crucial," Chen Yuan said thoughtfully. "Our shop also buys copper, and we offer preferential prices."