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Author Topic: Career Change - Gunsmith  (Read 1155 times)

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Offline jmet2

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Career Change - Gunsmith
« on: April 01, 2006, 11:39:38 AM »
Just sold my company. After being in the hardware business for 25 years it will be hard to not have something to go to everyday. Is there that much of a demand out there for gunsmithing work to justify a new start,
or should I pursue other interest.

Thanks in advance,
jmet2
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Offline killdeer

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Career Change - Gunsmith
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2006, 01:04:47 PM »
My experience is that good gunsmiths have at least as much work as they want in every part of the country I have lived in. Some are highly specialised and some do general stuff.
  Good luck in your new endeavors.

KD
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Offline northern hunter

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gunsmithing
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2006, 03:51:26 PM »
Hi there,I work every second weekend at Ellwood Epps Sporting Goods in Ontario,We have 2 full time gunsmiths working and do everything from custom guns to small repairs,they are very busy 3 weeks waiting time at least for small repairs and big jobs up to 2 months.It is a good buisiness if you are good.
Good Luck
We need more gun guys. :D
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Offline gunnut69

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Career Change - Gunsmith
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2006, 09:05:11 PM »
It's a fairly expensive business to get into but is rewarding. I worked on the side for many years and even now after trying to retire, have too many jobs! Of course some are my own but if you like the work it sure is fun.. Good luck and we're always here to help if we can..
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gunnut69--
The 2nd amendment to the constitution of the United States of America-
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Offline cntryboy1289

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I agree
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2006, 11:56:38 PM »
Like Gunnut said, it is a might expensive to get into the field if you don't have many tools on hand, but if you are well trained and have the business experience that you already have, you can take in the jobs that you want to and keep busy or you can take in every job that comes your way and work all the time.  I am retired and only take in the jobs I want to and I still keep enough work to stay busy all the time.
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Offline Nobade

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Career Change - Gunsmith
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2006, 02:25:10 AM »
I concur with all this. It also depends on what you want to do. I concentrate on high accuracy rifle work, and have all the work I can stand. I do think getting into the repair business would be nothing but aggrivating because it is so hard to find many parts you need. I'll do some repair for folks, but reluctantly and only for people I know. There is also quite a bit of work repairing the work other "gunsmiths" have done. That keeps the creativity flowing sometimes!
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"Give me a lever long enough, and a place to stand, and I'll break the lever."

Offline gunnut69

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Career Change - Gunsmith
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2006, 08:53:05 AM »
I totally agree with Nobade!!!!!!!  Repair work is an ordeal sometimes. My latest is a good friend and neighbor with a 410 simgle shot IverJohnson. The top lever spring was broke and thinking that these are usually available and simple to make agreed to help out. Forearm couldn't be removed as the barrel stud had broken off and been 'replaced' with a homemade replica that didn't fit. The forearm wood was split by someone trying to get it off before arriving here. now I get to fix the forearm and fit the latching mechanism. Install(and maybe make) a new top lever/locking block spring and keep the repair under $10 bucks.. If it weren't a good neighbor and friend.... But all gunsmithing is interesting, if nothing else!  I did just finish the checkering on an upgraded stock/forearm for a Krieghoff. Beautiful wood and a lot of time..
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gunnut69--
The 2nd amendment to the constitution of the United States of America-
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Offline Racepres

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Career Change - Gunsmith
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2006, 07:00:40 PM »
Gunnut: this is the first I hear of yer checkering skill! I am a fairly accomplished.... Reader! Could you kindly refer me to a "beginners guide"?
In my part of the country there seems to be alot of "gunsmiths" some you can run-up a sizeable phone bill just leaving messages for, others you try to forget after seein' their work.... strive to be the guy w/ the busy phone!!!   MV
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Offline gunnut69

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Career Change - Gunsmith
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2006, 12:07:41 PM »
I usually reccomend Monte Kenadys 'Checkering and Carving Gunstocks' as its what I started with. There are several books and paperbacks that have some really good info but the Kennedy book is likely the best.. Another is 'Gunsmithing tips and projects" from Wolfe publishing. It's a conglomeration of articles and projects by vairous authors, some of which are a bit common, while others are very specific.. The Kennedy book is the best for purely checkering while the Wolfe book has some interesting projects..  It's near to impossible to have too many books.,.
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gunnut69--
The 2nd amendment to the constitution of the United States of America-
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Offline Racepres

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Career Change - Gunsmith
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2006, 05:43:24 PM »
Got it... Thanks much..  mV
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Offline Les Brooks

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Career Change - Gunsmith
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2006, 03:45:49 AM »
I have a DVD on checkering and the operation of my stock duplicator.  If interested give me a PM here.

Gunnut69

Will you PM me for some details.
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Grumpy Old Man, Retired Gunsmith
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