smithing apprentice

[sjdep97]

The best training available in this area would be at Lassen College. It is the oldest gunsmithing college in the US and has a reputation for excellence.The NRA Gunsmithing Program up there that runs in the summer months is inexpensive, and taught by some very good instructors. Bob Dunlap and Bob Chavez are truly masters of the trade and are still teaching up there. You might try a couple of the one week summer classes and test the water to see if it is really something you want to make a career. Their formal gunsmithing program up at Lassen takes about three years to complete for a full time student and requires you to purchase several guns to work on as class projects. It is not cheap, and will get you a job making a wage that is much less than you would imagine. To be a real gunsmith you will need a good machinist background. Use of mill, lathe, grinders, hand tools, and welding are all required to pass Lassen's program. True gunsmiths are getting to be a real rare breed because of the expense to obtain training versus the prevailing wage a lot of these shops are willing to pay. Good luck in your endeavor!

[saki302]

Before doing anything else- enroll in a machining and welding class at a local community college. They have night classes, and they're CHEAP. It's also a great way to getyoruself some cheap mill and lathe time (though I would advise against bringing anything receiver-like or atual receivers there).

If you can run a mill and a lathe, you can buy cheap guns (surplus, broken guns- go get your C&R license NOW!), and learn most of the rest by doing. Buy a few books. A lot of the older books are great- they teach many lost skills (i.e. the fine art of the hand file).
Gunsmithing school may be nice to pick up some of the tricks you will learn through experience, but I've known many excellent smiths who never went to a formal school. With a little more experience, you can skip the intro classes and spend money on the classes that count too.

If you are semi-competent, a local smith may take you on as a free apprentice, or just let you watch- might be something to consider.

-Dave

[freakshow10mm]

When it comes time to get your FFL I suggest a type 07 manufacturer FFL as with gunsmithing you can easily cross the line into firearm manufacturing and not be licensed to do so. Example: If you buy a gun, put a scope on it, offer it for sale that's manufacturing a firearm.