gunsmithing?
01-13-2002, 07:25 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: pawhuska OK USA
Posts: 94
gunsmithing?
how would i go about starting a gunsmith shop. That is something i think i would enjoy. They only place to get your gun worked on is 30 miles away and down here in OK everyone has a gun or 12. Is there internet classes or do you have to go to a vo-tech. This would be nice because i am a rock mason and dont do much work in the winter or when it rains. Any info would help thanks
01-13-2002, 08:27 PM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greensboro NC USA
Posts: 563
RE: gunsmithing?
There is nothing like attending a resident gunsmithing school. Here in NC, I went to Mongomery Community College while I was at Ft. Bragg. It was a 40 mile drive, but I was able to attend at night and the instructor worked with me and my schedule.
If you have a local technical or community college that offers a mechinist course, start with that. Much of what a gunsmith does involves machining, using measuring tools, and machining setup. You will learn to use many of the machines like lathes, mills, welding, etc. Then you can look for a good gunsmithing school, preferably resident, but there are some you can take by corresopondence. Correspondence can't give the hands on training like stock refinishing, inletting, and checkering, like a resident school can. You may have to do some searching to find a internet school or correspsondence school, but it is a start. i have a set of correspondence course that I bought for the detailed instructions on disassembly/assembly of many firearms. It was worth $10 for that alone. You can never have to many refernces, my office looks more like a book store than a gunsmith office.
If you have a local technical or community college that offers a mechinist course, start with that. Much of what a gunsmith does involves machining, using measuring tools, and machining setup. You will learn to use many of the machines like lathes, mills, welding, etc. Then you can look for a good gunsmithing school, preferably resident, but there are some you can take by corresopondence. Correspondence can't give the hands on training like stock refinishing, inletting, and checkering, like a resident school can. You may have to do some searching to find a internet school or correspsondence school, but it is a start. i have a set of correspondence course that I bought for the detailed instructions on disassembly/assembly of many firearms. It was worth $10 for that alone. You can never have to many refernces, my office looks more like a book store than a gunsmith office.
01-14-2002, 12:20 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N-E PA.
Posts: 1,787
RE: gunsmithing?
I worked with a local gunsmith for a while and he showed me more than I could learn from any book...God rest his soul! Ask around and offer to help for "FREE" just to learn. Hands-on expercence is the best way to learn. If no luck in that area 1SHOT_1KILL idea is the next best thing..thats my opinion! (FYI) You must also apply for a FFL before working on any gun.
Good Luck...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Hunt Safe!
Jack
Good Luck...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Hunt Safe!
Jack
01-15-2002, 12:42 AM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: A shack in Arkansas
Posts: 2,029
RE: gunsmithing?
there are alot of people that call themselves gunsmiths. they are really" gun repairers". a gunsmith is one who can machine and actually build a gun. most of them can only change parts or fit parts. i know there is a school in colorado but other than that i dont know of others .
01-15-2002, 10:30 AM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pine City Minnesota USA
Posts: 114
RE: gunsmithing?
I am going to gunsmithing school right now!! I actually just left my handgun class. I would suggest going to a school and get some hands on training. I don't know how effective internet classes are, especially for gunsmithing. Another thing to think about is that starting a shop is very hard on the wallet. You have to buy a lot of stuff like blueing tanks, welding equipment, An engine lathe, a mill, a heat treat furnace, tools for specific guns, etc, etc,etc, and a good lawyer $$$$. Your right sour there is one in colo. There is one in pine city MN that's the one that I'm attending. I think there are a couple out east like SC, Georgia, Luoisiana. Not much to pick from. Hope this helps.
