Gun Smithing

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paulh

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I know there is posts abotu gunsmithing, but with little time didnt have time to read every post.

Wondering about gunsmithing, any good online courses where someone can become a gunsmith. And in order to be a gun smith, is there any permits/lic's a persons wuold have to have???

Thinking about doing a course down the rd for a on the side job.


tks
 
paulh said:
I know there is posts abotu gunsmithing, but with little time didnt have time to read every post.

Wondering about gunsmithing, any good online courses where someone can become a gunsmith. And in order to be a gun smith, is there any permits/lic's a persons wuold have to have???

Thinking about doing a course down the rd for a on the side job.
tks
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One thing about gunsmithing... You must be a stickler for details and able to search and find answers for odd and unusual problems. An online course is no way to learn the craft. IF you are really serious start doing some of this work, start by finding the time to read up and then find a mentor who is willing to work with you.
 
bearhunter said:
Turning it into a job, takes all of the fun out of it.
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Agreed 100%. In my industry, I often get asked what the definition of a professional is. My response? Someone who has ruined a good hobby.

Nothing takes the fun out of an enjoyable activity like having the pressure to get it done, having someone not like your work or being impatient, or screwing up something of value that belongs to someone else and having to find a way to make it right.

If you need a job, get one that still leaves you a hobby to enjoy.
 
I took the the PCDI course a few years ago and being someone who thought he knew a bit about guns, I still learnt a lot. Now that being said that course has no where near the tasks to qualify you as a gunsmith after you've taken it. Lots of guys on here will shoot down the course but it's a good stepping stone if you don't the time to move out east and go to college for a few years. There are probably night courses at your local college that you can also take in machining which is a necessity for any gunsmith. Mentoring would be a fantastic idea also. As long as your learning that's the key to getting to where you want to go especially on a growing industry! There is endless reading material that a guy can buy and educate him/her in many different areas. I would recommend that course if your just starting out, lots to learn and its cheap at your own pace. It won't get you to the top of the ladder but, it'll get you started up it!
 
I took it as well, nothing wrong with it. Next plan was to do the AGI course, never paid the money but think I collected most the videos. They are a very good learning tool especially if you have a work space and guns to work on along with the course videos. I would ever dream of calling myself a gunsmith but I have learned a lot the last few years, a lot of reading and practicing and going to auctions, buying junk and repairing, "restoring" and selling privately, so much so that I seldom have time to go shooting anymore but it is something I love and it is a good way to wind down the brain after long stretches in a very stressful job I currently have.
 
Don't waste your time or money on on-line smithing courses. You can't learn to do a proper trigger job on say a revolver that way. Most of the companies doing 'em are in the video selling business. Plus you'll require one of every firearm the lessons are about. Same goes for mail order correspondence courses. Then, if you opt to buy 'em, after you've spent a pile of money, there are no entry level jobs.
Taking a machining course will put you in the right 'mind set'(makes you think 'techie'), but it doesn't help a whole lot. Tried that one myself about 35 years ago. Plan was to do that, work for a while, then go Stateside for a real 2 year Community College smithy course. In those days, entry level machinists with no apprenticeship, became machine operators at minimum wage. Nobody could live on minimum wage then either. Going Stateside has its own tribulations. Starting with not being allowed to work part time or otherwise while in school.
Don't bother moving East either. There are no colleges teaching gunsmithing in Canada. (Somebody posted a week or so ago that the French speaking only, Quebec school was ending their course.) Gunsmithing is a long way from being a growing industry in Canada too. Government interference has all but killed it.
However, as mentioned, reading everything you can lay your hands on and buying junkers and fixing 'em up will teach you more than any expensive video will.
There's no such thing as a certified gunsmith, but you would require a firearms business licence plus local municipal business licences and a great deal of cash. That's to pay for parts, etc as nobody will give you credit when you're new.
 
take a welding course, cabinet makers course, small business accountant course, machinist courses ,then find a professional gunsmith who will take you on as an apprentice.
 
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