So I want to be a gunsmith...

[collateral]

I have decided that I want to go into gunsmithing and eventually open up my own gun store. I have looked into schooling for it and the only thing I've really been able to find is the Pennsylvania Gunsmithing School. I sent them an email requesting an information packet on the school but I haven't received a reply yet.

Is it possible to do an apprenticeship with a gunsmith? Are there other schools/programs that I just don't know about? How does one actually become a gunsmith?

 

[chris in va]

Oh no. My friend, you've opened up Pandora's Box.

I also wanted some information about gunsmithing, and a year later I *still* get all these emails and snail mail pamphlets about various programs.

Boiled down to this. Go to school for 2+ years, get an entry level job for $12/hr. Takes a LONG time to learn all the firearms on the market and the money just isn't there.

Not saying don't do it, but I've been advised by actual gunsmiths that it's more a labor of love than money making prospect.

 

[koginam]

I think I have posted on this subject at least once a week.
I am a retired gunsmith with over 30 years of owning gun shops and sporting goods stores so i know of what I speak.

Their is money in gunsmithing IF you run it as a business not a hobby. Yes their are apprenticeships out their this site will give you some info http://www.thegunsmiths.com/apprenticeshipprograms.html
Look at the site and decide what kind of smith you want to be, if you want build guns you can get some training from several of the gunsmith schools, you can also get training in machine tech. from a community collages, You can also get business classes which I can't emphasize strongly enough are important.
It takes time and many long hours to get the business off the ground. but it can be done. Another good source of info is http://thegunsmiths.com/phpBB2/
They have info on insurance, and the hot trends in the trade as well as other relevant info on gunsmithing.
Good luck

 

[Limeyfellow]

Most gunsmiths do it as a secondary job or a hobby if you are just lucky enough you can make a name for yourself in the field. Its about as rare as successful authors are.

Pennsylvania Gunsmithing School is a pretty good institution. I would say one of the premium ones for blackpowder firearms and worth attending if you can afford it. Still out of state costs to go there which is way more than I could afford. You will have more luck working in the end at one of the big manufacturers, or it is going to be a real labour of love project.

You might want to try some day courses offered by various colleges and see if you like it first. I done a couple of things at Appalachian State's gunsmithing school, though most people start off as amatuers and work their way up.

 

[Trebor]

You should have a strong background in how to use hand tools and then get mroe training in machine tool operation. The more you know about wood working, metal working, and machine use before hand, the more ahead you'll be when you decide to specialize in working on firearms specifically.

 

[larry24]

Years ago I too was interested in living out my dreams in the gun industry,

I found that the best school in the country is COLORADO SCHOOL OF GUNSMITHING, this place is very creditable........IT isn't just some internet course...................Its actually a 2 year school, and then another optional 2 years to learn to build custom rifles, stocks, and barrels..........I think they may have some job placement after successful completion.................

The good money is being an "in house armorer" for companies such as GLOCK, RUGER< ,, ETC < ETC.

Let me know if you need the number of the place

 

[larry24]

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention this part...............When I looked into this school it was like $7,500.00 / year.............................This included the tuition, books, shop fees, and your basic tools.......................I guess the place is still in existance.

I also think SMITH AND WESSON OFFERS AN ARMOURERS COURSE AT THEIR CUSTOM SHOPS???

 

[larry24]

also check out www.gunsmithing.org in arizona........I hear the instructors there are great.

 

[ieszu]

There is also the Pennsylvania Gunsmithing School just north of Pittsburgh, PA.

Great instructors, great staff and they are willing to teach anything you want to know beyond the standard curriculum (I spent 2 months with one of the instructors going over the equations to determine barrel oscillations, and to modify the barrel to change the wave-length so that achieve optimal accuracy).

Other than there and Colorado, there is no other real school in this country. If you can afford to go to one of the schools, either due to time and money, the only option is to become an apprentice to a reputable gunsmith.

Beware of "parts changers" or "machinists" who claim to be gunsmiths. As one of my instructors put it, "A man can not call himself a gunsmith unless he can a block of metal and a chunk of wood and make himself a gun."

 

[Vermont]

How about military training as a gunsmith? For example, if I were to become a gunners mate in the Coast Guard would that provide me with the necessary experience to become a gunsmith as a civilian job or would the experience be too narrowly focused on certain weapons like the AR platform?

 

[12Bravo20]

I was a machinist in the Army and when the unit armorer need some work done that involved machining, he came to me. I don't know about gunners mates in the Navy or Coast guard but Army and Marine Corp armorers don't do any machine work, they basically either change out parts or send weapons off to be repaired. I was lucky in that I was actually authorized by higher command to work on weapons. Getting a good background in machine shop technologies is recommended along with getting firearms specific training. Before retiring, I would do small government jobs in the machine shops that I worked at, nothing major or anything that would get upper management mad. I have made repaired many small rifle/pistol parts this way. Being a machinist/tool and die maker/gunsmith isn't cheap, you have all of the schooling plus the cost of tools and also equipment if you open your own shop. Best of luck if you decide to do it.

 

[Onmilo]

I'm with 12Bravo20.
You would be better served to obtain a machining background and transition to gunsmithing from there.

Most College level gunsmithing courses seem to weight heavily on machining and basic woodworking the first two years and most of the actual hands on gunwork begins on the last two years.

Problem is that most machining employers will not recognize the two year gunsmith degree as a machining background and frankly, most of the two year graduates of gunsmith schools do not have enough actual hand on training with firearms to actually make the big money in the field.

I have seen many who end up working for that magic $12.00 an hour at Gander Mountain or Cabelas with a signed contract that prevents them from doing any work outside of the storefront for the duration of their term of employment.
Many more graduates end up working for the east coast manufacturers as assemblers or machining center operators.
Good to middling money but very draconian to a serious student of the gun.

Frankly, a Bachelors Degree in Gunsmithing will get you about nowhere in the field of making money.
A Bachelors Degree in CNC programming or Tool and Die manufacturing will alow you to earn enough money that at some point you will be able to open your own shop and realize your dream.

I work part time as a Gunsmith and full time as a Machinist and have always earned far more money doing steel work over gun work.

 

[Mr White]

Keep in mind the other side of becoming a gunsmith. A lot of people think that taking a job in the field of their hobby/passion is a dream come true, only to soon find out that their hobby/passion has now become work and they lose either some or all of that passion. Not saying that this will happen to you, only that you should consider that it could.

 

[Baba Louie]

Good words from Onmilo and 12Bravo.

Good machinists/tool & die makers earn a decent living all while being able to work upon things that go bang if it so pleases them once they've paid their bills and put bread on the table for the family.

No matter which route you take, do take some basic accounting and business classes as well.

My Dad was a Machinist Mate in the Navy waaaay back in the late 40's early 50's. Went to work for TWA just north of KC at their overhaul base machine shop (now operated by American Airlines I think). A whole lot of the guys he worked with were also smiths in their spare time. So I guess you could join the Navy and see the world whilst learning to run their machines as things made of metal need parts and fixin' every now and then.

Just a thought.