Yet another gunsmith, how do i do it, thread

L

Lobsterclaw

Inactive
Not really just curious if anyone has knowledge of a school in NY? i think Pittsburgh is the closest, but i do not want to do one of those, "well i dont really know how to do that, the online course i took didnt have any pictures of that".
 
More info needed as to what outcome you are looking for. A dear friend of mine went to the Pittsburgh school. Are you wanting to be a "gunsmith" or a "kitchen table gunsmith" a "tinkerer. Why is it you do not want to study at the Pittsburgh school?
 
the reason i say Pittsburgh is it seems to be the closest school, and iam looking at this as a long term when iam done with college, iam at that point in my life where iam thinking maybe being a psychologist is what will ever make me happy so its time to pursue a passion and turn it into a living, not at the kitchen table but as a gunsmith for a company and maybe much later for my own business. but ive seen those dreaded words on their website now that say "No classes needed, all from home" and i dont care to be completely devoid of hands on knowledge.
 
Do yourself a favor and if this indeed your passion go to the school in Pittsburgh.
Gun-smithing is NOT a get rich, wealthy trade. You may be able to make a living at it and you should also look into getting a FFL down the road.
Good luck in your endeavors
 
Can I make a suggestion here? You need to think about who and what you are already. Specifically, you need two different mindsets going in:

1) The "troubleshooter gene": somebody who can see something mechanical and figure out how it's supposed to work and why it's not working. If you're already competent at fixing bicycles, cars, motorcycles, etc. you're probably good to go.

2) You ALSO need the "artisan gene": the ability to be a perfectionist in making it not just work right, but look right. Typical example is the guy who re-finishes an old desk or other furniture and it comes out looking superb through painstaking effort.

I personally have number one but not number two. I would never work on somebody else's gun unless it was an emergency and he had to get it running, in which case I'd take my best shot if there was nobody else...wilderness survival situation, post-SHTF, whatever :).

If you don't have both of these genes together...yeah...sorry, but...don't even bother :).

If you DO, by all means! We need you.

OK?
 
All the gunsmiths I know are retired machinists with pensions from their first career. I don't think they make much at all on a per hour basis.
I think you have to be an inventor to do well as a gunsmith, not just a problem solver. Like TVs and Xerox machines, it is now much cheaper to buy another gun(for the average American), so there isn't really all that much business. Trap shooters and some collectors, but most hunters are never going to talk to a gunsmith.
 
can i get your opinion or your friends opinion of the school?
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From all he has told me in conversation it is a good course for the trade. Instructors are top notch and you will be building and fixing firearms in school with much hands on work. Tools are going to make tuition look like a bargain. Just to fill yourself in on the possible tool needs of a gunsmith go to www.brownells.com and look through the tools, Then there is a lathe, milling machine just to name 2 machines that you may need again depending how much and what kind of work and gunsmith you will choose to be. Are you going to be full service a specialist? many decisions to make and a possible big boat load of money on tools will be needed. Also consider the fact of will you be finish work as in bluing, parkerizing?
 
Gunsmithing is a never ending learning process !! If you're serious go to one of the best known schools ,I went to the CST in CO. Those schools give you the basics but then you're on your own .
 
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