Learning to be a Gunsmith

[ghettodub]

So I think I want to start the long process and learn how to be a gunsmith. I'm starting to hunt around on where to learn, and I came across this on Google.

http://www.schooloftrades.edu/default.php

Anyone have any input on learning to be a gunsmith? Any feedback is appreciated

[Mazin]

Spent a little time there and it was ok but I have heard it has changed a lot and cost much more now.

[BPTactical]

Great, just what I need, nuther Gunsmiff.........[Rant1]


Seriously though
Trinidad State or Yavapai.
Legions ahead of CST.

Whilst you are waiting to get in try to find a Community College that has machining classes.
Tis easier to machine and become a Smith than to become a Smith and try to learn to machine.

Slide by sometime

[Troublco]

Pickens Tech has a machining course.

My hunting/fishing/shooting buddy, also a Gunsmith by training, also recommends Trinidad; he went there himself. He has said that the quality of the program at CST has dropped dramatically in recent years.

[coop68]

Great, just what I need, nuther Gunsmiff.........[Rant1]


Seriously though
Trinidad State or Yavapai.
Legions ahead of CST.

Whilst you are waiting to get in try to find a Community College that has machining classes.
Tis easier to machine and become a Smith than to become a Smith and try to learn to machine.

Slide by sometime

This is what every gunsmith i have talked with has mentioned as fare as current schools offering the trade! and their suggestions!

i am young and currently in college focusing on a business administration and criminal justice degree double majoring. i plan to take some side courses at a community college on machining just so i know how to use certain tools and just cause i really want to learn! i don't expect to become a gunsmith but to learn something new and potentially useful later in my life and just another thing to add to the resume! [Beer]

coop

[ghettodub]

Cool, thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll just start out my learning some machining!

[Wulf202]

emily Griffith downtown has evening machining classes. if you get the right lathe you get a view of diamond cabarets entrance...

[Mazin]

emily Griffith downtown has evening machining classes. if you get the right lathe you get a view of diamond cabarets entrance...


lol I can see it now...Ohh ohh look its a nipple...or an elbow.[Coffee]

[BPTactical]

Cool, thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll just start out my learning some machining!


Why not start with the original machining method?
I will give you a 1.5" square of steel. You provide a 10" mill bastard file and file a perfect 1" square, 90 degree corners and accurate to .0010 in all dimensions.
Then you can move onto a machine.
I have a friend of mine who apprenticed to an old German tool and die maker and that is how he started with his apprenticeship.
Makes perfect sense, the better you can manipulate the metal by hand then the better you can by machine.
Don't waste your time on CNC machining unless your idea of Smithing is watching a machine turn out 3K parts per day.
I think Emily Griffith still has manual machining classes. That is what you want, old school knob turning machine skills.
You need a huge knowledge and reference base for Smithing. Buy every book you can and read them.
You need to know many different mediums-steel-stainless-high carbon and low carbon steels-brass-copper-wood

[leatherneck448]

I scored an apprenticeship with a 'smith last summer. It would be my route of choice IMO, but im still probably going to end up going to school for it when I'm "of age", just to have the little piece of paper that says I did it.

[BPTactical]

How is a large Dominos Pizza and a Gunsmith different?



















The pizza can feed a family[ROFL1]

[jerrymrc]

Tis easier to machine and become a Smith than to become a Smith and try to learn to machine.

There is a very valuable piece of advise. Learning to machine would open the doors and provide insurance so to speak. [Coffee]

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Great, just what I need, nuther Gunsmiff.........[Rant1]
Seriously though
Trinidad State or Yavapai.
Legions ahead of CST.
I think this is where spyder is going for his "Mr. Smithing" skills.?? [Coffee] I just learned a thing or two growing up with guns. But if I can't do it I call BERT!! [Beer]

[spyder]

I think this is where spyder is going for his "Mr. Smithing" skills.?? [Coffee] I just learned a thing or two growing up with guns. But if I can't do it I call BERT!! [Beer]
Yeppers, I'm in Trinidad currently. You will be waiting for a while before you get into any of the smithing schools however. I believe the wait here is about two years out. Go learn how to machine first, you would be miles ahead of the curve, and you have a long wait ahead of you anyway.

[BPTactical]

There is a very valuable piece of advise. Learning to machine would open the doors and provide insurance so to speak. [Coffee]
And weld as well.

Always have something to fall back on.
One thing about CST v Trinidad or such. CST you get a certificate in Gunsmithing. Trinidad and Yavapai you earn an actual degree.

Now for the ugly truth of the matter: Very, very few Smiths make a notable living 'Smithing.
Bill Wilson, Bill Laughridge, Les Baer, Chip Yost, Bob Munden, Chad Dixon and such are the rarity.
They found a niche and were lucky enough to capitalize on it. They are the masters of a particular platform and people will glady wait 2-3 years for a +$3K item from them.
Not to mention all of them manufacture items as well and that is the moneymaker. They might get to actually work on a firearm a few hours of the week. You will need to figure out if you want to specialize such as riflebuilding, pistolsmithing, double guns, stockmaker, refinishing or general smithing.

For a general Smith you actually spend very little time actually working on firearms. Your time is taken up responding to e mails and phone calls, researching items, building tooling as needed, doing paperwork, budgeting, taxes etc.
You have to be a businessman first, Gunsmith second.
By the time you figure out what you are making per hour it is actually quite little all things considered.
And we haven't even covered overhead such as tooling, machinery and utilities. Example: I basically stole my mill for what I paid for it. But I have 4 times that easily in tooling, 1 carbide cutter is $110.00 to cut sight dovetails for instance. I fire up my welder or phase converter and I can almost hear my Excel bill racking it up.
We are also in a terrible location for a Smith to hang out a shingle. With 2 renowned schools in state Colorado is topheavy on Smiths. Everytime CST graduates a class there is 20 or 30 new Smiths job hunting.
The majority of them go to work for places like Bass Pro, Gander or such for 12.00 per hour or so, a few may go to work for manufacturers as well.

What you may try to figure if it really something you want to do is this:
The NRA holds "specialty" classes that usually run a week or so during the summer in Trinidad.
Try one, see if it is for you before you make the investment in the dedicated course.

Not trying to discourage you at all, just trying to illustrate a real world picture of the trade.

[mopar]

Dang Bert...... and here all this time I thought you were a 1%ter[Coffee]

[brokenscout]

There is a very valuable piece of advise. Learning to machine would open the doors and provide insurance so to speak. [Coffee]
PM Sent

http://www.nragunsmithing.com/trinidad.html