Career in Gunsmithing

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JaySmith23

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I know some of the gunsmithing work such as repairing and restoring gun safety etc. However, I am not that experienced in this. My passion is to pursue a career in gunsmithing and want to be a renowned gunsmith. But I am confused about where to start. Can anyone suggest to me any course regarding this or what is the qualification I need to apply for this course? Well, I read many blogs related to a career in gunsmithing but unable to reach a conclusion.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in Advance
 
JaySmith23 said:
I know some of the gunsmithing work such as repairing and restoring gun safety etc. However, I am not that experienced in this. My passion is to pursue a career in gunsmithing and want to be a renowned gunsmith. But I am confused about where to start. Can anyone suggest to me any course regarding this or what is the qualification I need to apply for this course? Well, I read many blogs related to a career in gunsmithing but unable to reach a conclusion.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in Advance
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this may sound flippant but here is the reality from where i sit.
I would seriously consider a move to either the the USA or Czech republic if you are at all serious about this.
This is due to the fact that these two countries have avenues of education and apprenticing and more importantly, when you come back to canada with actual certificates , you will be taken seriously by the firearms community.
 
You are going to require a high paying job to fund your learning, a job with a lot of flexibility... or are you wealthy now? Perhaps a wife with a high paying full time job?
 
Have you ever visited a gunsmith? The ones that I've visited have been - and this is meant with no offense to the proprietors - tiny operations looking like they are about subsistence and not much more. I can't imagine a much less attractive field to get into given todays social engineering, and proliferation of plug and play rifles dominating the market.

Someone suggested Red Seal training - I'd agree wholeheartedly. Those will allow you to make stuff, once you've got a garage full of tooling. And maybe land a job with a firearms manuf business. And if not, well you're qualified to actually make some money.
 
I would say to become a Red Seal Machinist before you start looking to become a gunsmith.

I believe the only way a gunsmith would be profitable in Canada is if you are lucky enough to become a warranty center for some brand of firearm.

Sometimes you will see the police forces in Canada looking for gunsmiths/armourers but most of those require experience in machining, certain armourer certificates, and hands on experience.

Canada is just too anti gun for someone to start out a lucrative career as a gunsmith.. even more so since the OIC banned a ton of guns that would make up a big chunk of business.
 
I was told by Jim Adams ( Adams Arms in Darthmouth ) and Jeff Smith ( Valley Guns ) Gunsmithing is more of a retired person job, or someone with another source of income. It's very hard to be profitable other wise.
 
OkayShooter said:
I was told by Jim Adams ( Adams Arms in Darthmouth ) and Jeff Smith ( Valley Guns ) Gunsmithing is more of a retired person job, or someone with another source of income. It's very hard to be profitable other wise.
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this makes sense.

most of the guns i have that need work are old mil sup and not worth a lot so i wont spend a lot
my newer guns either have a warranty or are reliable enough to not need much work

There is work out there, but i don't see it making you a lot of money.

That being said, if you are treating its a as self funding hobby then go for it!!

I know lots of guys in bands that are never gonna make it big. They do it because its fun and the money they do make lets them buy new gear (self funding hobby)
 
blargon said:
I want to be a renowned race car driver, but so far I just have speeding tickets...
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Well it’s a good thing you didn’t.... your supposed to be in front of everyone! And stopping is only for new tires and fuel! Not flashing lights , and more paper work. Lol
 
Gunsmithing, like most trades, is not something you can learn from videos and books, you must get your hands dirty. You will need varied machine shop skills as well as specialized woodworking skills ,business skills and the self discipline to put in an honest eight hour working day every day rather than BS ing with walk ins. Gunsmithing for many years entailed a seven year apprenticeship and upon graduation you were considered competent but not a master in all facets of the trade. Most gunsmiths in this country have little or no formal training in the trade, some are ex military armourers, machinists or advanced hobbiests and concentrate on one or several specialties, very few are equally competent on sporting rifles, milsurp, shotguns, handguns and custom projects. Specialists such as stock makers, checkerers, colour hardeners, engravers, and others provide their services to other gunsmihs that do not have equal skills.
Why do want to be famous as a gunsmith? Is it vanity? Do you equate fame with fortune? Can you name 6 currently active famous gunsmiths? The advice to first become qualified as a machinist, tool and die maker or perhaps a cabinetmaker is the best advice on here. You will never be unemployed and you will earn a very good living ( more than many university graduates) all your working life and even into retirement if you wish. With these qualifications you can always start gunsmithing on the side, perhaps specializing in one or two things to start then branching into more involved and skilled work as your knowledge increases and your customer base grows.
If you are impatient start by tracking down the reputedly best gunsmith(s) in your area and offer your part time services as a shop boy. All gunsmiths have lots of work that is dirty, repetitive and boring but requiring little skill. Many would appreciate someone to sweep the floor, make coffee, polish parts or take care of shipping. If you show promise and a good attitude you may in time be offered more challenging tasks and some training, but remember when the gunsmith is training or supervising you he is diverting his valuable time from his work to do it.
 
Gunsmithing is one thing and likely just enough to money to keep the lights going.
Being able to diversify is key component to success.
Check out those shops that do warranty work for the major firearms players .
You know, they do repairs to other fine machinery , firearms and sell firearms on consignment.
Rob
 
A career as a machinist would be a great place to start then work in tool and die. Your hobby at that time should be a wood carver something you can do that in your spare time. You need a space to do your hobby.
Understanding small mechanical concepts is also important.
As a machinist you can work on some tools, barrel vice etc. If you are young now is the time to start. You wont wake up tomorrow morning and be a gunsmith.
You already know what you want to be it's time to set some goals, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years etc.

Ashcroft above has a handle on this.

What are you doing right now towards this career?
 
bogozzo said:
https://www.nait.ca/coned/gunsmithing There is a program in Edmonton, NAIT main campus. I believe the prereq's are some level of certification as a machinist and. of course the appropriate PAL
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If you're really serious about becoming a full time smith, take a year off working to make ends meet and enroll in the Colorado School of Gunsmithing. They will introduce you to all of the basics and cover just about every type of sporting firearm. They will at the very least teach you enough to know how to learn what you need and where to look for it.

I don't know about nait/sait courses. I've heard they're basically like night school courses that introduce you to machining and fitting. Which is a good place to start. I don't believe you will come out of it a knowledgeable smith.

Then, if possible, work with or for an experienced gunsmith for a while. That's a difficult thing to do these days as small one man shops, albeit very busy, can have a tough time supporting more than one family.
 
Ashcroft said:
Gunsmithing, like most trades, is not something you can learn from videos and books, you must get your hands dirty. You will need varied machine shop skills as well as specialized woodworking skills ,business skills and the self discipline to put in an honest eight hour working day every day rather than BS ing with walk ins. Gunsmithing for many years entailed a seven year apprenticeship and upon graduation you were considered competent but not a master in all facets of the trade. Most gunsmiths in this country have little or no formal training in the trade, some are ex military armourers, machinists or advanced hobbiests and concentrate on one or several specialties, very few are equally competent on sporting rifles, milsurp, shotguns, handguns and custom projects. Specialists such as stock makers, checkerers, colour hardeners, engravers, and others provide their services to other gunsmihs that do not have equal skills.
Why do want to be famous as a gunsmith? Is it vanity? Do you equate fame with fortune? Can you name 6 currently active famous gunsmiths? The advice to first become qualified as a machinist, tool and die maker or perhaps a cabinetmaker is the best advice on here. You will never be unemployed and you will earn a very good living ( more than many university graduates) all your working life and even into retirement if you wish. With these qualifications you can always start gunsmithing on the side, perhaps specializing in one or two things to start then branching into more involved and skilled work as your knowledge increases and your customer base grows.
If you are impatient start by tracking down the reputedly best gunsmith(s) in your area and offer your part time services as a shop boy. All gunsmiths have lots of work that is dirty, repetitive and boring but requiring little skill. Many would appreciate someone to sweep the floor, make coffee, polish parts or take care of shipping. If you show promise and a good attitude you may in time be offered more challenging tasks and some training, but remember when the gunsmith is training or supervising you he is diverting his valuable time from his work to do it.
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I would argue that it is a trade you can learn SOME about from videos and books.

Most of the gunsmiths I have encountered, were sorely lacking in talents relating to business management and book keeping. Those are the skills that will keep the lights on, and food in the fridge! As hard as it may be to swallow, you might just find that owning a retail store and mounting scopes bought there, makes far more sense than carrying a debt load so you can be a bored all singing and all dancing machinist! At least, as being a gun plumber goes!

You have to be a pretty near master of about six or more different trades, in order to succeed as a 'smith. Machining, wood working, Chemist, book keeper, accountant, psychologist and a few other minor degrees...

Especially given the current climate, the field of interest really looks like a trip over a dead end cliff!

My advice, if you are really interested in pursuing this line, is to learn what you can, where you can,and to have a really solid back-up plan so as to be able to afford to eat without resorting to begging. That is to say, be involved in any of the trades out there that are pretty much 'associated', but which actually pay a living wage!

Make a decent living, and get good at something (preferably something in demand) and you should do OK. Otherwise you end up just another Auction Sale.
 
EHG said:
Being a gunsmith or musician are great hobbies and will always be hobbies. Very few ever become renowned in Canada.
I do both and still need to drive a truck to pay the bills. :)
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Unfortunately not many groupies after gunsmiths.
 
I wonder what happened to the people that were working for Murray Charlton... he had at least one other smith there and I think possibly two working under him.
 
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