Would like to learn Gunsmithing

V

Visith

Moderator
I was wondering how I could learn Gunsmithing around my area.
I'm 17 and live in Rockville Maryland. I'll be attending the community college , so I don't think I can go to the one in Colorado. Is there a way I could learn this fully learn this trade by correspondence courses or books?
 
I have seen some video courses, and I have seen correspondence courses advertised. Neither gives the kind of hands on experience you need to get started without learning on someone else's guns. Still, both are valuable, and a good place to start.

It would be tough where you live, but you might ask at gun shops if they have any need for a gofer/trainee who could work with their gunsmith, but unfortunately they have more of those kinds of guys showing up than they can possibly use. There is one smith in the area whose work I have seen and I can only say you could not possibly do worse.

To go into business yourself, you need both age and capital. I don't think you can even get a gunsmith's license until you are 18 or 21, I forget which. And you would need a business premises, which would be at least difficult in Mont. Co., not to mention expensive.

Wait a while until you are more on your own, get some college education under your hat, and bide your time. I don't know what you are planning to study, but if you think of going into business on your own, business courses will help even if they don't lead directly to your major.

(If KKT is elected, we may not need any gunsmiths in MD; the guns will be in the furnaces and the gun owners in re-education camps or maybe death camps.)

Jim
 
Thanks, thing is, I'm not learning this to open a business. I'm learning it to teach others. I've called the gunshops and they said they dont need anyone, and those correspondence courses are expensive, so I'd like to know if there are any books anyone here could recommend. As for college, I'm going into electrical engineering. And who is KKT?
 
I think I would stick with the electrical engineering degree if I were you. Gunsmithing is a great hobby, but I think you'll find that the engineering degree will be a lot more stable job in the uncertain years ahead concerning 2nd amendment issues. I have always had an interest in gunsmithing and have practiced it as a hobby for the past several years, I'm thinking of going after my FFL finally, but I got along fine without it in the past, I just worked on my own guns. I've had no formal training, but I've learned the skills that I need as my work progressed. I could recommend the following books depending on what area you wanted to focus on.

Modern Gunsmithing; Howe 2 volume set, this is probably the best of the books as it covers everthing from metal working to woodworking in great detail. The work they discuss ranges from moderate to great complexity, it's a bit outdated having been written in the 30's but the information is still good.

I forget the name of it, but Roy Dunlaps book is a must have too.
You might also check out the gun digest books Pistolsmithing and Riflesmithing and if your interested in pistol work check out Nonte's book on pistolsmithing as well. Order a Brownells catalog and you'll be able to get a list of these books with the exception of the Howe volumes as there out of print now I believe.
 
Howe's books suppose that you have all of the tools of Springfield Arsenal at your disposal and they are the very latest technology to build no longer needed accessories for outdated firearms; it is great nostalgia for old gunsmiths, but useless today. Dunlap's "Gunsmithing" is circa 1950 and is mostly antiquated. Neither of these selections cover the three most populat guns of taday, the AR15, the Ruger 10-22, and the 1911 is only peripherally covered with outdated comments.
Save your money and buy some of the books that accompany the gunsmithing tapes and Kuhnhausen's series of books.
If you want to go into the firearms field, you need to consider mechanical engineering, heat treatment of metals, and a whold group of vocational subjects like welding, machine shop and finally salesmanship. You ;might consider a course in selling radio advertising. If you can sell radio time, you can sell anything.
 
"I don't think you can even get a gunsmith's license until you are 18 or 21, I forget which."


Gunsmith's license? Huh? A FFL, yes, but a gunsmith's license? Is there such a thing?
 
Consider attending one of the NRA sponsored Gunsmithing schools in the summer. I have attend several classes on the West coast. They were one or two week intensive classes. As a resident of the state, I could attend the class, stay in the dorms and eat at the cafeteria for under $ 200 for the week.

The NRA sight has information on it. I think there are 4 or 5 schools across the country that do it.
 
Hi, hdm25,

My terminology was not correct, as there really is no such thing as a "gunsmith license". But a person who engages in the business of customizing or gunsmithing must have a dealers FFL.

This from the BATF web page:

"Is a license needed to engage in the business of engraving, customizing, refinishing or repairing firearms?

Yes. A person conducting such activities as a business is considered to be a gunsmith within the definition of a dealer. [27 CFR 178.11]"


27 CFR 178.11 has the following definitions:

Dealer. Any person engaged in the business of selling firearms at
wholesale or retail; any person engaged in the business of repairing firearms or of making or fitting special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms; or any person who is a
pawnbroker. The term shall include any person who engages in such business or occupation on a part-time basis.

Gunsmith. A person who devotes time, attention, and labor to
engaging in such activity as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit, but such a term shall not include a person who makes occasional repairs of firearms or who occasionally fits special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms.

HTH

Jim
 
I would have to disagree with Mr. Lawson. Howe's and Dunlap's books have many of the basics that you need to really understand firearms. These books in addition to the more modern publications should all be considered. As a working gunsmith, I have an extensive library consisting of all of the classics and most of the modern one's as well. I have learned something from every book that I have read, from the most basic how to book to the specialized. You can pick up many good books on Ebay for reasonable prices, look under gunsmithing. Join the American Gunsmithing Association www.customer_service@belvoir.com , they have a monthly publication that covers many aspects of gunsmithing. As stated before, get the Brownell's catalog, they have most every gunsmithing publication available. Buy one book a month and study it from cover to cover. You will learn more than what you would learn from a mail order course and build a valuable referance library at the same time. Tools are expensive, so buy tools only as you need them. Have fun and go slow. This forum is a great place to ask questions so use it often.
Good Shooting, John K
 
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