Want To Become A Gunsmith Help???

hemidart

hemidart

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Hi I would like to become a certified/registered gunsmith. What courses/training do I need? Where do I get/go for training? Government red tape? Any and All info would help,!!
Thanks, Pete...
 
In some provinces you simply pay the $100 federal fee and applicable municipal licenses - no training or certification required...

The best courses however are in the US and can run into two years or more...

Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado is one of the better ones...
 
Funny you should ask...

I called Colorado School of Trades a couple of days ago to inquire regarding tuition, course start dates, etc. Linda tells me that the course costs $21,000 USD, starts fresh each and every month (rotating admission), and because out-of-country folks (like we humble frostbacks) can't work to support ourselves while we're there, proof that the student has the financial means to support himself while attending - she recommended a total of $50K, tuition included.

Or a guy can work in a machine shop, read a hell of a lot, get comfortable with woodwork, checkering, etc on his own time, build a reputation, and save his money...

Good luck either way, mate - lotta work out there for good smiths.

Dan
 
Be advised that gunsmith jobs are few and far between in Canada. Especially for new guys and they don't pay well. If you're thinking of opening your own shop, treat it exactly like any other business start up.
 
you don't require any training in canada
all you need is a government issued gunsmiths business liscence, a gst number, a secure facility and insurance comin out yer backside. you will also need to invest thousands in tooling and all the neat mysterious things that gunsmiths have in thier little .... or not so little tool/parts cribs :D
 
Try your local colleges, I live in Calgary and SAIT runs a once a week evening gunsmithing course throughout the year. Its not much but can get you started and get you introductions to others hobby gunsmith with lots of knowledge and experience to share.
 
One guy says there's a lot of work, another says there's barely any...so...which is it? hehe ;) I, too, have been thinking of getting into this line of work. After a little bit of searching, without any luck, for schooling here in Canada I had wondered if it didn't make more sense to simply become a machinist who studies gunsmith stuff on the side, since it didn't seem like I was going to find any schools to go do, heh. Well, without going to the States, that is.
 
_Shorty said:
One guy says there's a lot of work, another says there's barely any...so...which is it? hehe ;) I, too, have been thinking of getting into this line of work. After a little bit of searching, without any luck, for schooling here in Canada I had wondered if it didn't make more sense to simply become a machinist who studies gunsmith stuff on the side, since it didn't seem like I was going to find any schools to go do, heh. Well, without going to the States, that is.
Click to expand...

IMHO thats the best way to go about it. Get a trade as a machinist/tool maker and work on gunsmithing on the side. At least you will be able to support yourself.
You will become a much better `smith as opposed to one that doesn`t have a good machining background.
Steve
 
Unless you go to the states and take a formal course, it will take a long time to learn.

Like many have said on here, take some machinists courses. You don't have to be a full blown machinist, but there are some procedures that you will have to learn and practice.

If you are looking at doing it in the future, my best advice is to buy as many old beaters as you can and start fixing/disassembling/assembling them for practice.

I am by no means a gunsmith, nor do I profess to be one, but I have learned alot over the years and continue to learn bit by bit. If you want to do it as a retirement job, or as a hobby, I would suggest it may take up to 10 years of "tinkering" to become proficient at the basics. One thing to keep in mind is that you can never be afraid to say "I don't know how to do that".
 
hemidart said:
Hi I would like to become a certified/registered gunsmith. What courses/training do I need? Where do I get/go for training? Government red tape? Any and All info would help,!!
Thanks, Pete...
Click to expand...

Do search on "gunsmith". This topic repeats itself every couple months. There has been some very good advice given in the past on some of the previous threads.

Note to Mods: how about a sticky for gunsmith training and advice?

www.armurerie.ca/pages_en/index.html
The course is free if you are a resident of Quebec.
Classroom instruction is in French, course materials are in English.
Finally a good reason to be bilingual.
 
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_Shorty said:
One guy says there's a lot of work, another says there's barely any...so...which is it? hehe ;)
Click to expand...

There are a small number of gunsmiths who have built up a reputation for quality work and for them there is a waiting list to get work done. For many who perhaps do competent work but have not built up the reputation, there is enough work to keep them busy as a supplement to running a store or filling in a retirement income.

cheers mooncoon
 
jethunter said:
Do search on "gunsmith". This topic repeats itself every couple months. There has been some very good advice given in the past on some of the previous threads.

Note to Mods: how about a sticky for gunsmith training and advice?

www.armurerie.ca/pages_en/index.html
The course is free if you are a resident of Quebec.
Classroom instruction is in French, course materials are in English.
Finally a good reason to be bilingual.
Click to expand...

I dont have Mod powers in this forum, so I cannot sticky my own article.
Perhaps the Gunsmith Mod can do so, please.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67673
 
Beware of the "On-Line" and distance-learning gunsmith schools that tell you they will make you a gunsmith. For the most part, they are simply some less than reputable bunch that want to sell you a lot of "gunsmith tools" at a big markup, and then give you "lessons" on fixing guns that you could read in most firearm manuals. And the certificates are not recognized by most of the bigger shops, to boot!
Caveat Emptor
 
tbg@sasktel.net said:
Beware of the "On-Line" and distance-learning gunsmith schools that tell you they will make you a gunsmith. For the most part, they are simply some less than reputable bunch that want to sell you a lot of "gunsmith tools" at a big markup, and then give you "lessons" on fixing guns that you could read in most firearm manuals. And the certificates are not recognized by most of the bigger shops, to boot!
Caveat Emptor
Click to expand...

I will second that. The ones i checked into were terribly expensive for what you get out of them, and you would certainly not be a gunsmith by any stretch of the imagination after completing them.
 
www.armurerie.ca/pages_en/index.html
Click to expand...


This is actually in my home town, guys.

I'm lucky enough to know the gentleman who runs this course, he's an elderly Swiss fellow with a real passion for guns, and a fine sense of old school craftsmanship. He's taught me a trick or two, and I had him rebarrel a Mauser action into a long range shooter.

It's a great place. I am not sure how long it will continue though, this might be the last year. I was stupid enough not to attend. Makin good money in forestry and I was reluctant to give that up.

Wanna hear the coolest part? It's actually IN my high school. Firing area and the works, indoors. Vault with lots of rifles and pistols.

School shootings? ZERO.

Ten bucks says if there ever was one, the gunsmithing boys woulda been on top of his monkey ass :sniper:
 
I guess that's one more reason I should have taken French language classes after the required ones in middle school, but I never had the interest in high school. An interesting prerequisite for a gunsmithing course, hehe.
 
if french language wasn't a perequisite, I'd fork up the cash tomorrow to attend the courses at that school. Unfortunately they do not offer an "equality based" curriculum so...... I guess my anglo @ss ain't welcome :(
no offense intended.... i just don't think that's fair.
 
It's a f*cking stupid requirement cause you guys would get by fine.

Mr. Matti speaks perfect English and I am sure there would be at least ONE student there willing to help translate.

I blame the school board. If they are too good for your tuition screw em
 
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