Learn Smithing via video

[twoblink]

http://www.americangunsmith.com

Is this any good? Will I actually learn enough to be a good smith and not blow up my hands in the process or get someone killed? Can a video take a place of a class? I find the fact that I can rewind again and again to be an advantage.. Just feel though lack of interaction prevents the you from learning the "little secrets".

Thoughts?

 

[Badger Arms]

These videos remind me lots of the 'learn to paint' scams you see from time to time. It's an art and a skill at the same time. You need to do the hands on work, not just watch the videos. The basics course is probably pretty informative. Not having seen it, I'd imagine it tells you how to use tools like screwdrivers and how to reblue and disassemble guns. I prefer books. To become a gunsmith, you kinda have to go to school and an apprenticeship to be a 'good smith.' Most technical colleges have some sort of metalworking classes. A good class in milling/lathe work and welding should give you a firm foundation in what is mostly involved. Most gunsmithing is just specialized metal and woodworking. It's pretty basic.

 

[4 eyed six shooter]

The one thing that I have not seen much of in Video's and books is the safety aspect of gunsmithing. I went to Colorado School of Trades for my gunsmithing education and the various safety systems employed in firearms was a large part of the education. Safety was always stressed in everything we did. What actions could handle what pressure and things to never do were also covered. The hands on experience is hard to get when going the video route. Seeing someone do something on a video and doing it yourself are sometimes two very differant things. The answer to your question is yes, you can learn gunsmithing from videos and books if you go slow and ask questions of experienced people on anything that you are not sure of. Read everything you can about gunsmithing, take a machine shop and welding course from your local high school and know your limitations.
Good luck in your education, John K

 

[twoblink]

I think regardless of the quality of "smithing", I think "safe smithing" is got to be on the top of every list. And that is one thing I fear, most teachers will tell you the "common mistakes" as they watch you work, but the problem is, the video will not...

Video as overview, and then take a class??

 

[mete]

Video might be a good first step but school would then expand on that and give you very necessary hands on training. Gunsmithing however is a continual learning process , expect to do a large amount of reading and get a collection of good gunsmith books for reference.

 

[jrhines]

Just a suggestion, but why not purchase one of the armorors courses tapes for a gun you have and enjoy using, watch the tape and see if it meets your expectations. The few I have watched have been pretty straightforward. Not a lot of the "secrets of the masters", but more vanilla flavored. Much like the intense instruction given before your first skydive, not the stuff that would be nice to know, but the stuff you have to know.
My only complaint is that the video is apparently shot "one take only". If there is a mistake (i.e. dropped part), it is not edited out. They are shot multi-camera for multiple views, but often fingers get in the way of what you are trying to see, or the shot is mis-framed. And I believe they assume some moderate skill and craftsmanship. I don't ever want to see a smith field strip my Ruger Mk II using a screwdriver to pry open the latch on the grip. I don't care if it is a school demo gun, that is just not how it is done.
I look at these things as a point of departure, not unlike this forum, lot'sa good stuff here for the asking. Like mathamatics, their is no royal road to gunsmithing.

 

[s&w 24]

I bought there FAL tape and like people said on www.l1a1.com I was disapointed. Lack of detail on the real need to know stuff that reminded me of a gunsmithing instructor that told a student that repair a remington firearm you used one tool UPS.

 

[Clark]

I have the AGI tape on Win 1897 shotguns and it is excellent.

The two AGI tapes on Garrands suck.

I have the Remington 1100 AGI tape and it is ok.


I would not buy a series from them. I would buy one at a time, if you can. I called them up and told them I thought the Garrand tape was bad. They said to send it back, as they had a new tape. I did, but the new is just as bad.

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

I've got videos on takedown for each gun I own. They're great. It helps a lot to see someone do it.

The HK USP video was difficult to find, but Arizona Response Systems has one that covers it.

- pdmoderator

 

[The Plainsman]

twoblink...

I would recommend buying the AGI tapes just one or two at a time, as you think you need them. I believe they would never replace an actual hands-on training school, but depending on how you want to start out, I think the tapes are pretty good. 'Course, I'm just using my "gunsmithing" for my own purposes and maybe a friend's - NOT a paying customer.

I have several of the tapes for specific guns that I own and I enjoy the tapes. The "instructors" on the tapes seem to know what they're doing and they go to some lengths to show you the details as they work on a gun.

Get a couple of them and see what you think. Couldn't hurt.