Gunsmithing What Direction Do I Need to Take?

[Kenny Marhoffer]

Hello All,

I live in Kentucky and am trying to find out how to become a gunsmith. I noticed that all programs for training are too far away in other states. I went to the BATF to find out what they want to see in the made to fail system that they have, but nobody will answer the steel with no windows with the two cameras pointed in my face and not labeled door to thier office. My grandpa is a gunsmith in Alabama and said that he just started out in a machine shop when he was young and learned each gun through time along with continued online courses or classroom courses each year. Is this the same for todays times?

I just want to figure out the process to get the certifications done and paperwork trail finished to be a gunsmith without the FFL to hold guns of thers overnight. My grandpa has about 300+/- guns that have minor problems that he will transfer over to me as the owner so that I am working on my own stuff to make it legal, he will check the work and then either keep the good stuff or transfer back to sell.

My first question is, Are gunsmiths registered and certified to the state that they are in as a professional? I am a Professional Land Surveyor that had to go thru acceptable college programs that the board of licensure would accept and also apprentice time that had to be certified to by an existing professional so that I could take a test to become a Surveyor. I am trying to comprehend the process to become a gunsmith, a real gunsmith and not someone that calls themself a gunsmith.

My second question is, where do I start to do this right?

If some of this dosen't make sense I am in a hurry trying to post before work, sry. And thanks for reading.

 

[seanh]

Re: What Direction Do I Need to Take?

I'm having to hurry and make a post as well so forgive me if I miss some key points.

This should be a Sticky...I've seen this same question a number of times here and elsewhere.

Going to school is definately an option but isn't necessary. Have you ever worked for someone that had the degree and can pass a test but can't apply it?

How you start all depends on what experience you have. Are you a competent machinest already? Can you weld? Are you very well inclined? Do you need an exploded parts diagram to assemble and disassemble a firearm?

Why be a gunsmith? Is it just because you like being around guns? Maybe a family thing?

Getting those questions answered first will help guide you.

I sugguest finding a gunsmith toapprentice with. It will be difficult to sell him but you can be a grat benefit by doing the simple tasks such as cleaning, assembly, disassembly, diagnosing issues. This will let the smith focus on the money making aspect of the job.

Oh, don't think this is a job you can get rich on. If you can pay your bills you're doing well.

Direction, read all you can about everything you can thing you might want to do. Buy a bunch of wallhangers to practice on. Who knows, maybe you can make them shooters.

don't have time for any more details...got to work.

there are a few smiths here, hopefully they'll chime in and give a better direction.

 

[hero's machine]

Re: What Direction Do I Need to Take?

I think the common answer should be.....keep your day job. You will get a pretty jaded view of a smiths life if you follow threads by guys like c.Dixon, he has a very good client base and his shop is NOT a typical shop. To reach that level of tooling you will have plenty of days filled with heartburn wondering how to make it fly, right up to the point that it just keeps going. If I were to advise a guy, and I am just a small timer trying to live the dream, I would pick an area of interest and learn it in and out. You will see many guys here that are very Sharp on the bolt action rifle and common pistols & auto loaders.....but would you send any rifle smith your classic parker SxS? Of course not. There are guys making a go of it in small shops without any machine tools, but they are quite limited on the work they take on. I know a fellow who is as good as al biesen ever was and he works out of a shipping container sized shop in Oregon. The only way to make it is to love the work, master the work and do good work. If you live where there is any client base, the work will come, or you will have to advertise. I would not be above odd jobs like whipping up a hydraulic cylinder for a construction company or similar....often those filler jobs pay well and keep the wolves back.
If you listen to anything at all, hear this. Do not finance any tools you do not have enough work to pay for them. Nothing worse than wondering how the Hell the bills get paid with no work. Not everyone will agree with that, but I can close my doors for the year, and not sweat it.....and that is a good feeling.

So...
Find your niche.
Master it
Do not try to be the savior of everyone that walks in. And tell your friends to take a number or you can talk them through it tonight.

 

[jacq220]

Re: What Direction Do I Need to Take?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hero's machine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do not try to be the savior of everyone that walks in. And tell your friends to take a number or you can talk them through it tonight. </div></div>


probably the most important yet hardest to learn lesson of gunsmithing

 

[LRI]

Re: What Direction Do I Need to Take?

Thanks Hero.

To the OP:

The most committed wins. Dig in and go for it. Balls deep!

C.

 

[E. Bryant]

Re: What Direction Do I Need to Take?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Land Surveyor</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just want to figure out the process to get the certifications done and paperwork trail finished to be a gunsmith without the FFL to hold guns of thers overnight. My grandpa has about 300+/- guns that have minor problems that he will transfer over to me as the owner so that I am working on my own stuff to make it legal, he will check the work and then either keep the good stuff or transfer back to sell.</div></div>

This does not strike me as an acceptable route unless your grandfather has an FFL and you will be performing the work at the location stated on his license. The ATF is pretty clear that if you are in the business of repairing a firearm, you need an FFL. Not trying to be a nanny here - just don't want to see you get in a lot of trouble and have your dreams derailed as a consequence.