Becoming a 'smithy

A

Atc1man

Moderator
Hi all. I live in Utah, and I have the GI bill just sitting there waiting to be used. I'm thinking of starting up this winter or spring with Gunsmith courses to use some of the GI bill before it goes away. I've got a great and high paying job, but I've got no other skills, and could use some extra spending money for buying guns anyway ;)
Any recommendations on what to look for in a Gunsmith school, how long should it take, and what basic qualifications should I have to enable me to work on my own guns and maybe make some money on the side with other peoples guns?
 
Two of the very best are in your general region:
Trinidad College in Trinidad Col. and one in Denver, (can't remember the name, Denver School of Trades????)

Also:
Lassen College in Lassen California.
Yavapai College in Prescott Arizona

You can also check with the NRA, they know who's out there and who's best.
All of the good one's are attendence schools. Nothing beats hands-on instruction by a qualified gunsmith/instructor, BUT
American Gunsmithing Institute is a video course that has a good reputation.
 
There are several ways to go. You can take a mail order course. These only teach the bare basics, and offer little hands on experience. If you can find a local gunsmith that will let you work with him, it is a great way to learn. Last there are the full time gunsmithing schools. I took two mail order courses and then several years later decided to go to the Colorado School of Trades. This is a full time 14 month school. The school was great. I had so much fun that I did not want to leave. Before going to CST, I went to a local gunsmith and asked him if I could work with him for experience prior to going to school. I told him that I would sweep the floors and clean machines in exchange for knowledge, I wanted no pay. He was great and tought me a great deal.
After doing all of the above, I would like to make the following suggestions. If you can't leave where you are at now, either take a mail order gunsmithing course or buy every gunsmithing book you can get your hands on. (look up gunsmithing on Ebay, you can get great deals on books there). I belive you can learn more from a good gunsmithing library than from a mail order course, and the books will be a better source of information later on. Find out about machine shop courses and welding courses at your local adult school or college and take them if offered. If you are going to get serious about gunsmithing than a full time school or working for an experienced smith is the only way to go. None of the above will make you a professional gunsmith right off of the bat. The full time school gave me all of the basics, a lot of hands on experience and a wonderful foundation to build on. It also taught me alot about the safety issues involved with working on firearms. I can't stress enough that you can get in over your head if you do not know exactly what you are doing. I have been smithing for 3 years now and learn something new everyday. Start slow and only take on projects that you know you can safely do. Ask questions to qualified smiths anytime you are unsure of any project. Don't forget that you will need an FFL and local licenses to work on firearms other than your own.
Gunsmithing is a great full or part time profession, GO FOR IT and enjoy. Best Wishes, John K
 
If you are like many and can't take advantage of a gunsmith college then as 4Eyed said a mail order course might be the way to go. You might also look into enrolling in a machinist course at a local vocational school. I started with a correspondence course 27 years ago. Didn't really start learning until I hung out my shingle and as mentioned school continues daily. George
 
To start right can be a pretty good sized investment, not counting the cost of the school. So working in another shop part time may be a good way to learn without shelling out lots of dough up front.

Quite a few folks who like guns would like to work on them and get paid for doing so. But then they find out that a set of headspace gauges will run over $100, and a set of reamers more than that. Add things like a lathe, drill press, milling machine, and it really adds up. Most zoning laws will not let you work from home, so finding and renting shop space is another factor, not to mention complying with all the state and local laws. I do not mean just gun laws; there are tax laws, zoning laws, business license laws, etc., etc., et gawdam cetera. And keeping the books, shelling out estimated income taxes, etc., ....

Jim
 
Go to Trinidad before you go to Lassen. Lassen's machinery is old and worn. Trinidad's isn't. Better to learn from classroom and shop than books. Books take you so far, and then you should have the experienced eye of a master critique you.
 
I'm kind of new here, but I'll throw in my thoughts anyway. Being a gunsmith is a labor of love and will not get you rich. In fact, it will probably just get you by financially, at least in my part of the country.

I love firearms, but was told by a smith to go into a different field that pays well and work on your own guns on the side. That's the advice I took. I do machine maintenance for a medical device company. Pay's good, and I have gained the experience (machining, mechanical systems, math, etc.) to do some pretty impressive tinkering.

If you want to be a smithy, you will need to understand machine shop equipment. I would recommend a two year machinist program at a local technical colllege. In Minnesota, a certified machinist can make decent money while apprenticing to become a toomaker, who makes seriously good money. All the while learning tricks that can be applied to firearms.

That's my two cents.

Ryan
 
Ryan is correct about not getting rich from gunsmithing. My shop is a part time shop which I am lucky enough to be able run from my home. I do make money, but have put out a great deal of cash getting my tools and machinery. It takes a while to payoff the initial investment. There is a tendency for a new gunsmith to want to buy one of everything from the Brownells and Midway catalog. Try to get the basic tools and then buy the specialized tools as needed. Let the job that you need the tool for pay for the tool. It is true that gunsmithing is a labor of love, but if you use good business sense and spend you advertising dollars wisely, you can make a profit. The best advertising that you can get is word of mouth. Always do the best job possible and remember that the gruff old gunsmith of the past is now out of date. Working part time is the best way to start your business unless you happen to have a bundle of money to live off of until your business is up and on it's feet. You should read everything you can about gunsmithing and get every book about gunsmithing that you can get your hands on. The library alone will cost you hundreds, but it will be one of your best investments.
You can also send out work that you can't handle. Before I got my bluing set up, I send my bluing work out and tacked a small profit onto the cost. Most of the time the customer came back with other work which I was set up to do, so it paid off. Let us know what you decide to do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top