Gunsmith Certification

[PointBlank]

For you gunsmiths out there...how did you go about getting into it?

Thanks
Derek

[Bushytale]

For me it started by tinkering with my own guns. I think gunsmithing is just another form of mechanics and I started working on motorcycles as a teenager. I worked as a m/c mechanic until going in the Army. After that I started a shooting hobby and eventually went to gunsmith school on the GI bill. I only stayed in the field for a few years as a full time smith before getting into other forms of employment for income. I still work on guns regularly.

Billy

[whitetiger7654]

AGI has programs and so do a few schools. I'm not a gunsmith. But I do enjoy watching the AGI videos and working on my own guns. It does cost more up front to fix things when you buy the videos and proper tools. But now you can always fix the problem again later if needed.

Plus the thing I like best is just the personal knowledge of knowing exactly what is going on in there. I'd bet 90% of gun owners don't know exactly how all their guns work.

[Bushytale]

PointBlank, are you thinking about becoming a gunsmith as a profession?

Billy

[Seth Harness]

For you gunsmiths out there...how did you go about getting into it?

Thanks
Derek

I was doing stuff on my pellet & BB guns as a kid, I guess I just never stopped. Theres something very relaxing and satisfying about working on guns, from cleaning to lathe, milling, drilling, welding, grinding or filing. I am far from certified, I just enjoy tinkering.

[PointBlank]

PointBlank, are you thinking about becoming a gunsmith as a profession?

Billy

Was thinking about it as a side/job kind of.

[Voodoochild]

PointBlank you might speak to gotm4 here. He is a certified SIG/Glock/Bushmaster armorer. He can probably fill you in on what path he took to get his certs.

[C4IGrant]

Liability insurance is VERY high as a gunsmith (FYI). You also generally need an 07 FFL to do any kinds of mods to a weapon as the ATF will deem you a "manufacturer."



C4

[nationwide]

PointBlank you might speak to gotm4 here. He is a certified SIG/Glock/Bushmaster armorer. He can probably fill you in on what path he took to get his certs.

I am certified by Glock and Defensive Edge as an Armorer...

Armorer certification doesn't really mean too much, unless you are working on carry weapons for LEO's or private citizens. The backing of Armorer level certification allows you to go into a court and tell the Judge/Jury that you indeed understand that weapon system, are able to identify the difference between what is in factory spec or not, and whether or not a particular firearm is safe for use, in the event a weapon you have serviced has been used in a deadly force encounter.

In my opinion, there is much more to being a gunsmith. You have to be an expert machinist, as well as an expert wood worker.

Any idiot with poseable thumbs can ruin a gun. But it takes a trained, qualified gunsmith to take a bunch of metal and turn it into a firearm.

I had one friend that went through the program out in Susanville, CA. I looked at going to the Colorado School of Trades... but I worry too much about future legislation to put all my few eggs in the basket of gunsmithing for a living.

Also, I have several of the home videos. They are neat. They are informative. But they do not a gunsmith make.

Good luck!

[PointBlank]

Thanks to everyone that has posted so far as this is the kind of information I was looking for. It is something I would like to do, and wanted to check into it, and research it to see if I could go farther with it.

I appreciate it,


Thanks
Derek