My gunsmith is Keith Warner, of Memphis. I knew his father-in-law before knowing Keith. His FIL, Jim, told me that Keith always wanted to be a gunsmith.
Keith told me he went to a gunsmithing school, the name of which I forget, and also to a trade school for machinists. When he got far enough along, he apprenticed with Ed Mason and Sons gunsmiths, also here in Memphis, and also studied under H.L. Highsmith, maker of African rifles for rich cottonmen.
Keith ventured out on his own, opening his shop in a sporting goods store, and finally opening his own shop.
To be a good 'smith is not only to be a good 'smith, but to be a business man as well.
As to being a mechanical engineer, I worked with many of them in my career, and while never an engineer myself, was a mechanical designer and had the time of my life. I worked with good, well educated folks, had a good office job on wet, cold days, or when the temps hit 100 degrees. But also visited many job sites, climbed up tall ladders, climbed up on top of grain silos, worked on river barges and railroad cars. Flew to many parts of the country, stayed in very nice hotels and ate in good restaurants.
Your choice.
Bob Wright