Gunsmithing courses?

only full time course in canada in in maniwaki quebec about an hour and a half north of ottawa. its pretty much all in french but I managed to do it last year without speaking a word haha.

Cheers, McLean
 
Stratford Career Institute offers a online gunsmithing course for $850, wondering if anybody has any experience with the course. I'm also quite interested in a course for a potential side buisness, but don't want to get into something that is useless
 
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WannabeSmith said:
Stratford Career Institute offers a online gunsmithing course for $850, wondering if anybody has any experience with the course. I'm also quite interested in a course for a potential side buisness, but don't want to get into something that is useless
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Gaining experience is the hard part.
Whose going to let you tap and drill a reciever for a base without a portfolio of work and customer testimonials available ?

I get a fair bit done at a local machine shop and the owner keeps asking if there's a market for it.

I much prefer going to him for a barrel cut and crown, $100 while I wait, barrel porting $100 while I wait, barrel fluting $150 , drop off and pick up at end of day, bolt jewelling, handle knurling etc etc....simple bread and butter jobs that seem to take a gunsmith 6 months or more.

I've taken wood stocks to a local furniture/antique refinisher.

Crazy what a skilled woodworker can do in a week.

Great to build a local relationships like this.
 
Leg said:
Not to sound like an *sshole, but you don’t want to get into something that is useless, but want an online course?

I wouldn’t take my guns anywhere near a “gunsmith” that learned the trade online.
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I don't see any problem with learning the theory aspects such as material properties, how certain machines operate, measurement techniques, etc. from an online course. Obviously to be proficient in the skills, you would need significant hands on experience, and I doubt anyone who completes the online course would tout themselves as a full on gunsmith right away; but to dismiss those courses as useless without seeing what they offer seems bit ignorant.
 
B_noser said:
Call me ignorant, but I see any online gunsmithing course as likely being just a little bit more useful as an online course for open heart surgery.
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I guess all open heart surgeons just picked up a scalpel one day and started practicing on their own? No background theory on anatomy, hygiene, or surgical technique required.






Yes, you're ignorant.
 
Some of the best tradesman I know have never owned a ticket, heck some can’t even read or write, but their hands on skills are madder then most.

Sorry I’m of no help, but even an online course is a foot in the door at least!
 
Tarrantula said:
I don't see any problem with learning the theory aspects such as material properties, how certain machines operate, measurement techniques, etc. from an online course. Obviously to be proficient in the skills, you would need significant hands on experience, and I doubt anyone who completes the online course would tout themselves as a full on gunsmith right away; but to dismiss those courses as useless without seeing what they offer seems bit ignorant.
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He didn’t say to learn theory. He wants to train for it to be a side business. Call me ignorant all you want, but to think that you learn adequately enough online to be trusted with working on firearms for money is the height of ignorance IMO.
 
He also didn't say it wasn't to learn theory, and that it was going to be his one single source of instruction. He is looking for options on a good place to start (which an online course probably is). I also very clearly stated in my post that I think significant hands on experience is required to become proficient. Reading comprehension is hard, I know. Or maybe you just ignored that part....
 
Tarrantula said:
He also didn't say it wasn't to learn theory, and that it was going to be his one single source of instruction. He is looking for options on a good place to start (which an online course probably is). I also very clearly stated in my post that I think significant hands on experience is required to become proficient. Reading comprehension is hard, I know. Or maybe you just ignored that part....
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Listen, you’re the one that tried to equate it only to theory, so now you’re contradicting your own point. Reading comprehension is hard, I know. 🤪

He said he didn’t want to get into something that was useless. Paying $850 for a course that won’t teach you anything you can’t learn at your local library is useless in my opinion. You don’t have to agree.
 
Leg said:
He said he didn’t want to get into something that was useless. Paying $850 for a course that won’t teach you anything you can’t learn at your local library is useless in my opinion. You don’t have to agree.
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I dont. 25 years ago I did an ICS correspondence course from the old matchbooks. Taught me nothing, as the info was basic, but saved the business a few thousand a year in insurance.
Something is better than nothing, and I have seen some awful gunsmithing work done by ‘pros’, so starting anywhere is better than nothing. If the goal is a business, learn something about business accounting.
 
If you want to get into gunsmithing there is only one place in Canada that gives hands-on training as far as I know. I did some research for the past year and also contacted them. Their name is gunsmith canada inc. from Laval and they give a full course (I forgot how long it is but I think it was 2-3 years. The course is 45,000$ so it has to be something you’re serious about. I personnally didn’t pursue that path since my financial needs were somewhere else. This price also includes
« a bunch of professionnal tools to equip you ».
Their website doesn’t give out much information but you can call them and learn more.
 
Dosing said:
I dont. 25 years ago I did an ICS correspondence course from the old matchbooks. Taught me nothing, as the info was basic, but saved the business a few thousand a year in insurance.
Something is better than nothing, and I have seen some awful gunsmithing work done by ‘pros’, so starting anywhere is better than nothing. If the goal is a business, learn something about business accounting.
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Well that’s an interesting perspective that I hadn’t considered. How did you prepare yourself for the business though? In terms of learning the actual business?
 
We have heard that Georgian College in Barrie is in the study phase of starting a Gunsmithing program here. Sounds like it would be a 2 year program . Basic machining will likely be a prerequisite. Very little information available yet, but the more people who want this the more likely they are to move forward with it...
 
FatCatsDad said:
Gaining experience is the hard part.
Whose going to let you tap and drill a reciever for a base without a portfolio of work and customer testimonials available ?

I get a fair bit done at a local machine shop and the owner keeps asking if there's a market for it.

I much prefer going to him for a barrel cut and crown, $100 while I wait, barrel porting $100 while I wait, barrel fluting $150 , drop off and pick up at end of day, bolt jewelling, handle knurling etc etc....simple bread and butter jobs that seem to take a gunsmith 6 months or more.

I've taken wood stocks to a local furniture/antique refinisher.

Crazy what a skilled woodworker can do in a week.

Great to build a local relationships like this.
Click to expand...
That's a great idea, I've got some contacts in my area already. I'll take that into mind. Thanks!
 
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