Gun Smith School

[ArmedLiberal]

I've seen the question asked here a few times "How do I get to be a gunsmith?" or "What is a good gun smithing school?" or "Can I learn to be a gun smith on line?"

This is one of the best answers I've run across.

http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/becoming_a_gunsmith.html


And a nationwide list of accredited gunsmithing schools:

http://www.midwayusa.com/midwayusa/StaticPages/pdf/Gunsmith_locator/Gunsmithing_Schools.pdf

 

[RhinoDefense]

Never saw a "gunsmith school" graduate that was worth anything to hire. Got plenty of stories.

 

[ArmedLiberal]

Never saw a "gunsmith school" graduate that was worth anything to hire. Got plenty of stories.

So, what path do you recommend for someone interested in becoming a gunsmith?

 

[Zeke/PA]

Check out Trinidad State Jr. College.
The program is comprehensive and the knowledge is there for the taking.

 

[snubbies]

Gunsmith

The best I can say is true for all trades. Find a good school learn all you can. Find a reputable gunsmith to do an apprenticeship with. Don't expect to make a ton of money. Be patient. Work hard. Keep your ears open and your mouth shut. Trade schools usually have assistance with employment in the trade.

 

[RhinoDefense]

ArmedLiberal, experience is everything in gunsmithing. Machinist skills are paramount. Experience diagnosing and fixing all manner of mechanisms is learned through experience. Too many people claim to be gunsmiths that can't even D&T a hole for a scope mount.

In gunsmithing, you don't learn on other people's guns, you learn to do something before you do it for money.

 

[snubbies]

Experiemce

RHINO- I don't think you answered his question. Where does he get the experience you, and I, say he needs. I refer to my previous posting.

 

[justashooter in pa]

aptitude is a key factor. some people can visualise mechanical interaction, and some cannot. this is partly based on relevant experience, and the rest is pure genetics.

this kind of ability transfers from one field to another. a good aircraft fuel systems mechanic with experience rebuilding fuel xtrols for bell textron designs would make a great gunsmith right out of the box. a guy who pushes a keyboard for a living is years of practice behind, and may never get there.

 

[snubbies]

Aptitude

The last part of the above may not necessarily be true. You never know what your aptitudes are until exposed to the task at hand. I went into the military out of high school. They gave aptitude tests. They assigned me to Air Traffic Control school. I never heard of Air Traffic Contrllers. Finished school and a 38 year career. The fact that i and many others had the aptitude for ATC without ever exposwed to it previously is some indication of latent abilities which a "keyboard jockey" may have for gunsmithing. What ever GOOD LUCK

 

[Buck Snort]

Never saw a "gunsmith school" graduate that was worth anything to hire. Got plenty of stories.

Maybe you just don't know how to pick'm?

 

[basicblur]

These ain't your daddy's gunsmiths?

Never saw a "gunsmith school" graduate that was worth anything to hire.

We’ve got a local ‘smith that came out of the Piedmont Community College-he must be pretty good ‘cuz he gets more work than he wants, and I have heard him speak highly of some of his fellow classmates (and he is a stickler for details).

He worked 30+ years as an industrial electrical/troubleshooter (apprenticeship program), and spent some time as a lab tech (troubleshooting electronics). When he retired, he finished up at PCC and now gunsmiths for himself part time at a local gun shop.

‘Course, he has/does all the usual manual gunsmithing stuff, but I do get a kick outta folks watching him hook his laptop up to his milling machine to do a little CAD/CAM work.
Jest puttin’ some of those skills he learned in his previous profession to work donchaknow?

 

[gym]

A machinest, is a good place to start. You should be able to make just about anything if you learn to be a machinest.

 

[GoingQuiet]

Colorado School of Trades has a highly regarded program.

I just did the Glock Armorer's class - I'll probably do the Sig Armorers class shortly, etc.

All the classes add up if you can get into them. I'd say after three or four of them under your belt, you can be called a gunsmith.

 

[Joe Demko]

If you have a community college or trade school locally where you can learn to do basic machining, take advantage of it. The skill set is useful and will help you discover whether you have an aptitude for this type of work.

 

[Justin]

Check out Trinidad State Jr. College.
The program is comprehensive and the knowledge is there for the taking.

Yep. The program in Trinidad is considered one of, if not the, best gun smithing programs in the country.

 

[gym]

Is there one that is in the South Florida area, I would love to do that even at my age. Maybe Justin knows a place down here in South Fl? "not kidding" I have been looking for something other than stocks and computers, and guns have been in my life most of it, if nothing else I would learn something I don't know, thanks. The equiptment scares me, but I guess you can work up to the expensive stuff if you make a living at it. I wanted to refinish "old guns" just bead blast and parkerise, blue, or duracoat them,be able to patch and refinish but you still need more of a knowledge of metals than I have. And that market is getting limited. But if you can do a little of everything I'll bet you can make a buck.Drillpress, and torch , along with a compressor, would maybe do the trick. May not need a lathe. I have my FFL forms sitting here but no way they will allow me to sell guns where I live, in a gated community, You need permission for everything you do. I would take a bay someware if I could find a partner, only because of the back problem. With so many people owning guns, they have to break, and someone is fixing them. I worked in a machine shop when I was a kid, DOD, during Nam, so I have worked on planes and helicopters along with all kinds of electronics, always like using the hands.