recommendations and advice wanted

[keith44]

I am the hobby level gunsmith of my family.  I do not have any formal training, but I want to become a professional gunsmith.  Stopping my current employment to go to a full time school is out of the question.  So I am looking for on-line or home study courses.  I am considering either Penn Foster and / or AGI.  There is not another gunsmith within 100 miles of where I live, so I think I could make a good part time business by being a gunsmith. 


What do you all think?? Is there something else I should consider?


Thanks in advance for all replies.

[1sourdough]

 A full blown business takes resources, money, time, maybe insurance & even a 'rezoning'. How about trying to get part time work at a gunshop of some type? There will be opportunity to assist with questions & later on some repairs. It's a way to dip your toe in without going all out. You also get your name & abilities out there.

[keith44]

if someone were closer that's exactly what I'd do

[charles p]

Many gunsmiths have a FFL also.

[STUMPJMPR]

I was always cuirous about that as well.  However, it is a skill trade best taught by a master of the craft.  There is a significant capital investment.  Especially lathes and mills.  A gunsmith should be an experienced wood worker and machinist. 

[BUGEYE]

If I'm not mistaken, the jack-booted thugs won't issue a FFL to a home shop anymore.
I think you have to have a separate shop.
correct me if I'm wrong.

[Hooker]

Gunsmithing is nothing more than a culmination of various skills.
Machining, welding, wood working, metal coating, metal fab, heat treating, tool making, engineering... Most of these skills are taught at vocational schools.
There are thousands of books and videos that teach repair and modification on almost every firearm made.
There are as many books with exploded views of firearms. A good set of skills some good tools and a good library will get you about as far as a correspondence course. You probably know lots of folks who well let you take their guns apart if you will clean it for them. Believe it or not cleaning is what most gunsmiths do because most malfunctions are from guns being dirty. But this gives you lots of hands on into workings of lots of firearms.  You don't need a certificate to be a gunsmith. My old man only completed the 7th grade and after serving in WW II he was a armourer till the mid 70s and a most of the time gunsmith firearm guru most of his life. He worked on everything from M2s to Daisy BB guns and made tons of parts with saws, files and a hammer and forge. There's no magic or dark arts in gunsmithing just skills you can learn and the application of them and that will change with experience. And you don't need expensive machinery or a fancy shop my humble shop has a bench grinder, small drill press, hand drill and belt disc sander. Every thing else is hand tools either built , bought or inherited . All tucked into a 6x8 room in the corner of the garage.

Pat

[keith44]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.  The last time I looked yes a gunsmith's FFL could be issued to a home address, as long as the business could be accessed without entering the home part of the residence.


As far as trades go lets clear this up once and for all.  I am perfectly capable of operating manual and CNC machining equipment, as a journeyman Electrician I have found it useful during my 20+year career to learn how to operated machine tools so that I could troubleshoot, repair, and test all equipment.  I have machined and heat treated parts to build my own trigger group for old military rifles (mostly Lee Enfields, both 303 chambered Mark III and IV, as well as that odd ball chambered for 7.62 NATO).  I build and sell or gift knives as the mood hits.  I have built black powder cannons from bar stock, and when I can find the reamers can rechamber most rifles.
 The "business" will be for me to retire to.  Part time as I choose, build and repair what I want when I want.  The schooling is simply a paper trail for customers.  If they see a diploma on the wall at the bench it should put them at ease with their personal treasure.


Thanks Hooker for posting here. 

[Lost Oki]

The last 3 gunsmiths I used did not have a diploma as a gun smith.  However, they had a customer base - word of mouth, that was a far higher recommendation to me.  The last, did not have a sign, and you had to get directions from him to find it.
Excellent work, stood behind what he did.  Had one project they had not done before.  Told me upfront but also told me he did not see it as a problem.  Based on previous work, I told him to go for it and I was not disappointed.