How to become a Gunsmith.

I’m the least mechanically inclined person you’ll ever meet, a “do it for me” kind of guy. My love of firearms is mostly about shooting and defending them. So when it comes to making or modifying them, I need a gunsmith. That’s why I’m glad Mr. Laban submitted this blog:

Becoming a Professional Gunsmith: Quick Reference and How to Guide
By Laban Graves

 

My journey to becoming a successful gunsmith started at quite a young age, it sprung from necessity as most worthwhile ventures do.  I’m from central Texas originally, and I had been a passionate white tail slayer since I could carry a rifle.

At the age of 12,I was permitted to hunt alone, my weapon of choice at the time was a Marlin 336y 30-30.  I had it outfitted with a decent Redfield scope. At the time I favored walking over sitting in a blind.  An hour or so into my hike, I came within 70 yards of an 8 point buck with a nice drop tyne on the left side.  He was helping himself to a few licks off of a salt block, and being on the correct side of the wind, he was in big trouble.  I got into a prone position, regulated my breathing, took aim at his neck, and fired my shot.

I’d like to brag and claim one shot one kill, but not on this day I’m afraid.  I shot a tad low, and wounded the poor creature hitting him square in his right shoulder joint, and basically taking his right leg off.  Unable to run away properly the animal was thrashing around in pain, and grunting like I had never heard.  I quickly worked the lever on the rifle, ejecting the spent case, but returning the lever to battery and inserting the new cartridge was problematic to say the least.  The lever was completely stuck in the rear position, and in my panic I was unable to realize the mechanical issue at hand.

My grandfather had gone over the basic operation of the fire arm with me numerous times, and as a proud “always prepared” Boy Scout, I had the proper tools on hand to fix the problem.  Within two to three minutes I had the problem fixed and was finally able to end my quarry’s suffering.  That was my first lesson in basic repairs, and to this day simple fixes like that is a large part of my business.

My first bit of professional training began at a small junior college in Kilgore Texas.  It is one of the top ranked hands on programs in the country, and lucky for me was only a short distance from where I now reside in the piney woods of East Texas.

The hands on instruction and techniques I learned while there have been pivotal to my success, and as an alumnus you are permitted to use the equipment on campus for life upon completion of the program.  That in itself is very helpful, as metal lathes, and some of the other necessary equipment are very expensive to purchase out right, especially when you are first starting out in the business.

There are several online resources available out there as well.  I was interested in the prospect of online study in this field, and a friend of mine suggested the course offered by Penn Foster.  I enrolled after researching the program, and completed the course in about four months.  I found the curriculum was easy to understand, and appreciated the fact that you could view all the resource material online, as well as receiving hard copies in the mail, which you can retain for further reference if need be.  While I did find the information easily approachable and understandable, I would recommend a program with a hands-on approach, as nothing can compare to hands on training in the care of a competent instructor.

Recently I came across another helpful tool that has helped me expand my business considerably.  The American Gun Institute or AGI for has been in business for twenty years now, and offers how to courses on in DVD format, covering topics from simple maintenance all the way through building complete firearms and customization like glass bedding and accurizing. Prices for the source material are very reasonable, and bundles are available which contain multiple courses as well as the necessary tools for completing the job.  Most courses are given by master gunsmith and instructor Bob Dunlap, as well as a host of very competent and without a doubt the best gunsmiths in the business.  I have had the pleasure of speaking at length with President Gene Kelly several times over the past year or so, and the man is a class act and the real deal.  As I mentioned previously, in my opinion, nothing can compare to quality on hands training from an experienced pro.

A quick online search will return information regarding schools in your area, and proper research on your part will help in your decision a picking the right program for your needs. Whether you are attempting to make this vocation your prime source of income, supplemental, or just as a hobby, gunsmithing is a great skill to possess, especially in the current political environment, where our right to bear arms is constantly under fire.  Being safe and knowledgeable about this topic helps break some of the stigma associated with gun ownership, and if you are a somewhat mechanically minded individual you will no doubt find the subject material both fascinating and enjoyable.