Want to be a gunsmith?

I agree with those who said get a machinist course. Still good to read old books like Clyde Baker's Modern Gunsmithing. Modern in terms of it was the Great Depression. Also Bill Holme's book on gunmaking is very interesting. He apprenticed with an itinerant tinker who drove around in a model A Ford repairing any machine that required repairs. Looks like we could be headed for an era where that business model will be relevant once more.
 
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There are many different aspects to gunsmithing. Depends on what you want to do. General gunsmithing or specializing? Obviously machinist skills are very applicable to some gunsmithing operations. Stockwork, not so much.
To be a successful commercial gunsmith, there must be billable hours, and the gross income has to provide a living and cover all overhead expenses.
 
tiriaq said:
There are many different aspects to gunsmithing. Depends on what you want to do. General gunsmithing or specializing? Obviously machinist skills are very applicable to some gunsmithing operations. Stockwork, not so much.
To be a successful commercial gunsmith, there must be billable hours, and the gross income has to provide a living and cover all overhead expenses.
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Exactly, the Truth is the majority of gunsmith work these days is "part swapping" as thats the nature of how modern guns are. Or. The flood of cleaning rifles, basic user tasks the client doesnt have the time or confidence to do himself.


And the occasion "I have X stuck in the barrel please help!'
 
Gunnar, first off, you are an inspiration! I have been thinking on and off about getting into gunsmithing for many years now. I'd love to have a home based business doing just that, but I've just never quite got there yet. I have a whole big top chest toolbox full of decent gunsmithing tools, and have been helping buddies out with mounting scopes, repairing stripped receiver threads, installing aftermarket triggers etc. I unfortunately, at this point in time, don't even have a garage. I'd love to build something and buy the big free standing equipment (lathe, milling machine, etc) and try to get serious about it one day. I'm in my early 40's, working full time as a red seal automotive technician, and my body aches everyday. Im not sure i will be able to retire from my current job. Where are you located? I couldn't get your web page to open? Are you still plugging away in business?
 
Shortened a rifle barrel yesterday, and put a 11° target crown on it. Didn't take very long to dial it in, face it off, then crown it. I ended up using a internal threading tool i had previously made instead of grinding a new tool to do it with. It worked perfectly.

Might thread it for a brake in a bit. I want my threading skills honed alot more before I do work on my barrels.

Shortening the barrel and crowning it was well within my skillset so far. Been making shafts for gearboxes recently and lots of other things that had tight tolerances, and quite a few features.
 
7x61 said:
In view of some controversial posts in "Off-Topic" recently, it is becoming very apparent to me that we sorely need more new gunsmiths in this country. I have trained promising apprentices only to lose them partway through to large machine shops with great benefit packages. It is disheartening, but for a young man with plans of starting a family, for instance, that is a hard option to resist, no matter how much you love guns :)

What to do? Try to encourage talented, enthusiastic people to have a go at gunsmithing (especially pistolsmithing, which is totally what I do). Is it satisfying to make something work? To watch a customer's face when he handles his new custom gun? To get the "Wow! I can't believe it!" email? Of course it is! Can you make a good living at it? Yes - maybe not for the first year, but after that, you're either going to do well at it, or realize possibly you should be selling vacuum cleaners :) Long-term, if you get into it in your twenties, the sky's the limit. If you're recently retired at 50 or so, have the machining and mechanical aptitude, and love guns, why not give it a try? You'd have, after all, probably 20 years....

What is needed? First, you gotta really be into guns, otherwise...
Second, you do need some machining and mechanical background AND aptitude. I find it easy to train someone to do good work if he (or she:) can recognize good work as opposed to mediocre stuff. If they can't really tell the difference, go sell vacuum cleaners! Third, you need either someone to take you on and train you, or a good place to do the gunsmithing and train yourself. Start with your own stuff, or your buddy's :) Nothing wrong with a good heated garage as long as you can get a business licence from your town or city as a home based business (that's needed in order to get the Fireams Licence you need to have other peoples' guns there). Fourth, you need tools and machinery. Good heavy duty USED lathes and milling machines beat the hell out of light, inappropriate new ones, especially the do-it-all 3-in-one etc. units. Yes, you can do decent work on almost anything, but a good sturdy unit is much less frustrating, especially if you're basically learning as you go.

A drill press and bench grinder need not break the bank. Upgrade as you get more money :)

For hand tools there are a few basic hammers, punches, good screwdriver sets with a LOT of bits you can grind to size and shape as needed, and then all the drill bits, a good number drill set, reamers (buy them as you need them - they're darn pricy), a good tap and die set, plus a few of the specialized taps etc. from brownells such as 6-40, 6-48, that you can't get locally.

$20,000 is a darn good start, $10,000 is doable if you scrimp a little.

What can you expect to make about a year down the road? $50 an hour for good work, I currently charge $60 and going to $70 March 1st ,but bear in mind you may in some instances work for three hours the first time you are inside a Luger, in order to make that hour's wage :)

Benefit package, RSP's, etc. ? Nope! Having a spouse with medical/dental etc. sure does help!
I'll be back at this subject, but I'll close with a piece of advice: Specialize!! Whether it's 1911's like me, or Lugers, Mauser rifles, Browning High Powers....hey, AR's are hot! work on guns you REALLY like, get to know them better than anyone else, and the world will beat a path to your door :)


Gunnar

www.armco-guns.com
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That's very well said. I often find myself wishing for more hours in a day. I enjoy this as a hobby for friends and others, sometimes even acquiring a struggling pc just to restore it. A few adjustments and smack in the fave do the trick, and if polishing it up makes it feel incredibly valuable.
 
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