Want to be a gunsmith?

I'm trying to figure out if I could turn it into a decent side business. Just a small operation "run out of a garage" so to speak. So far have just been getting heavier into the tinkering with my own firearms and a few brave friends of mine. I'm not much of a metal worker tho, aside from finishing and polishing. My latest project was to strip and polish a Win Model 1894 and reblue it, then refinish the stock with linseed oil. It was just simple cold blueing, but I'll be damned it turned out pretty damn nice! Definitely breathed some more life into the old girl. Plus I managed to smooth out some dings, scratches and machine marks to a high sheen. Fun project, killed an afternoon and felt quite rewarding.

Still, seems like a hard business to break in to.

Time will tell how far I end up going with it....
 
I am a member of a wood working and metal working co-op shop. We have a shared space and shared tools and a broad knowledge base in our membership. Over the last 2 years I have learn a lot from trial and error and talking to other members.

In Vancouver we have all types of co-ops from electronics to glass blowing. I wonder if a similar model would work for gunsmithing. If a group of people got together backed by an experienced gunsmith bought a set of tools to be shared and charged a monthly member ship it could be a great way to learn the trade in ones spare time. This really only works in a large city as you need enough members to pay the bills.

Just a thought.
 
mark0 said:
I am a member of a wood working and metal working co-op shop. We have a shared space and shared tools and a broad knowledge base in our membership. Over the last 2 years I have learn a lot from trial and error and talking to other members.

In Vancouver we have all types of co-ops from electronics to glass blowing. I wonder if a similar model would work for gunsmithing. If a group of people got together backed by an experienced gunsmith bought a set of tools to be shared and charged a monthly member ship it could be a great way to learn the trade in ones spare time. This really only works in a large city as you need enough members to pay the bills.

Just a thought.
Click to expand...

A knife maker would use many of the same sets of tools, big or small.
 
I'm having ankle surgery soon, will be in a cast for about 6 weeks, but off work for 3 months or more. Now that I've seen this thread, was wondering if anyone in SW Ontario wants to have me on for some training and extra help.
Very mechanically inclined, familiar with all hand tools, minus more than a few specialty smithing tools, I'd imagine.
Near Orangeville, willing to travel 1 to 1.5 hours for the opportunity.

Aaron
 
i would love to be a gunsmith i live in winnipeg my father was one and i am very mechanically inclined i am a welder by trade and was apprentice millwright
i have a full time job but i would love to apprentice with someone willing to take a devoted person in winnipeg or surrounding area
weekends are open and i want to learn
i have in my opinion lots of knowledge of all kinds of firearms thanks to my father rip
 
I have been doing "gunsmithing" informally for most of my life; and using machine tools just as long, have a certificate in Manufacturing Engineering, and am currently employed as a Process Engineer; still using machine tools, and doing a lot of hand work on tool, die and injection molds. Certified Structural Welder, but most of what I do now is Tig. Have a tig welder at home, and have done work for a few dealers where parts could not be found, and repairs to broken parts or worn parts could be made. I have been doing stuff for trade or credit with dealers, and if someone wants to give me a reasonable reward for what I do, that's OK too. :) I'm really good at hand fitting; not all gunsmiths I have met in the past are, and a lot of them are more parts changers and mechanics.

Maybe it's time I formalized what I do a bit. I don't want to give up my day job, but as a hobby, it is something that I have always enjoyed, and would not mind having a bit more of it to do.

I would only do what I could, and would work with other professional who have specialties I could draw on.

I wonder if I could get a licence or approval from the government?
 
Just a local business license is required...No special Fed. Govt. license or approval needed unless you want to manufacture guns or ammo for resale...hang your shingle and get-at-er' .

Corrected to add "unless you want to handle restricted then the CFO wants you to be insured & have a security system before they will accredit you as restricted destination.
 
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fingers284 said:
Just a local business license is required...No special Fed. Govt. license or approval needed unless you want to manufacture guns or ammo for resale...hang your shingle and get-at-er' .

Corrected to add "unless you want to handle restricted then the CFO wants you to be insured & have a security system before they will accredit you as restricted destination.
Click to expand...

Something to add to my too-do-list; thanks for the info.
 
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