[Buzztail]

at gunsmithing. I'll give you a little background first. I'm 34. I've got around 13 years under my belt as a machinist. I did two years retail sales in a gunshop in my early 20s. I'm good at what I do, but I'm burnt out with my current position -running a machine shop. My wife and I are pertty well off right now, so a slight drop in income will not bother us too much.
I tinker with most everything I can get my hands on. I'm self confident, and love to learn new things. I have a history of perfectionism when it comes to things machanical. I've been looking for a new direction for several months now, and have narrowed it down. I'd love to hear your thoughts.......
Thanks,
Shaun

[BluesBear]

Well the best way to make a small fortune in gunsmithing it to start out with a large fortume and become a gunsmith.

Check into the gunsmithing courses offeres at good schools around the country.

Decide if you want to be a general all around gunsmith or do you want to specialize?

Is there a reputable gunsmith in your area that whould hire you as an apprentice?

It's good to follow your heart. Just don't lose your ass doing it.

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

But then, Who knows if I'd have stayed in that career too. I welded for just a couple years after school then my interests went to the military, then industrial operations. Now? I'm in computers.. Go figure.

A machinist turning gunsmith sounds like a good venture. Think of all the custom things you could make.

No matter how anal any of us think we are, (not to discount your machinist experience, not at all), to be a smith, it takes training and experience to be a good one. (You've got a huge head start with your experience though.) -Else, you're just like me, A non-smith, that's intelligent enough to figure out how something works, that works on it until it doesn't work any more, then works on it until it works as it should, and once in a while I get it to work better than it did before.

-Steve