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
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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