Posted on Jan 14, 2022
SPC David S.
10.7K
83
26
15
15
0
One of my semi-auto pistols was acting up. I broke it down, even the firing pin assembly. Did a thorough cleaning and inspection and then put it back together. However something I always do with any weapon that I feel presents a safety issue is have it looked over by a licensed gunsmith. One in my area is the go to guy for a very large area in the Chicagoland area. As such he has plenty of business. That means for me a simple inspection and test fire - 14 weeks lead time. A simple google query and its clear there is a lack of gun smiths for what I would consider a healthy gun market. Is this a regional problem or is there truly a lack of licensed gunsmiths in America.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/618993-real-gunsmiths-disappearing.html

https://makerslegacy.com/gunsmithing/gunsmith-schools/
Edited >1 y ago
Avatar feed
Responses: 12
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
MSG Stan Hutchison
7
7
0
I worked a few years with one of the best gunsmiths in the Pacific Northwest. CSM James Brock, Retired US Army. I ran his retail department, but was able to glean a lot of knowledge from him about firearms. He was a cantankerous old cuss, but sure knew his business. He opened his business in 1973 and closed it 4 years ago. He passed last year. RIP, Jim.

As to the OP question, I believe the main reason the trade has decreased is far too many people do not want to spend the money for quality work. We live in a "throw-away" society and gun owners are no exception.
(7)
Comment
(0)
SPC David S.
SPC David S.
>1 y
Yes I can see that - $100 bucks in repairs on a $400 dollar gun - many would see that as a reason to invest in a new gun. Kind of shame but it makes sense especially if you buy the same firearm. Now you have a lot of parts to fix your new weapon not to mention all the accessories you had for your old one.
(2)
Reply
(0)
MSG Stan Hutchison
MSG Stan Hutchison
>1 y
SPC David S. - The funniest thing I saw was people spending thousands of dollars having their guns customized, then asking me for the cheapest ammo we stocked.

We often had customers come in with a cheap firearm but did not want to spend the estimated costs of repair. Jim got to where he would look at the gun and tell the customer it was not worth fixing. Customers usualy left angry.

One of Brock's standard lines was: "There is no such thing as a GOOD cheap gun."
(3)
Reply
(0)
SPC David S.
SPC David S.
>1 y
Very true - you have a problem with a firearm that's worth $5K its something worth fixing - and agree cheap and crappy are interchangeable.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
7
7
0
Those that were really go at their job, are retiring, and no one wants to step up to fill their shoes brother SPC David S.
(7)
Comment
(0)
SPC David S.
SPC David S.
>1 y
I'm seriously considering this as a side job or something to do in retirement. Seems like a something one could do well into their their 80's
(5)
Reply
(0)
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CWO3 Us Marine
5
5
0
Kids have avoided trades for years, even fewer journeymen or masters. Game designers and coders name their price. STEM not so attractive either with the coins, relative to others.
(5)
Comment
(0)
SPC David S.
SPC David S.
>1 y
I can see that - most of the good ones are older men as well - not a lot of female gun smiths - which I find odd as there are a lot of female shooters out there.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Avatar feed
Why is there a persistent lack of gunsmiths?
CWO4 Terrence Clark
5
5
0
SFC (Join to see) gave a response that fits with a lot of campfire talk. That and just a general aversion folks have these days to any work that doesn't involve a flat screen.
(5)
Comment
(0)
SFC Retired
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
Sometimes I'd love to go back to real paperwork. Not always, but there are those days.
(1)
Reply
(0)
SPC David S.
SPC David S.
>1 y
I feel it might end up something like CAD/CAM 3D printing parts at home.
(1)
Reply
(0)
CWO4 Terrence Clark
CWO4 Terrence Clark
>1 y
SPC David S. Don't need one. But want one. Prices beginning to get within range.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Steve McFarland
3
3
0
There are some gunsmiths around, but they are very busy. The gunsmith at Addison's is chronically overloaded, and is only doing things like mounting scopes and sighting in rifles and scopes that were bought there.
(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Retired
3
3
0
Because way back when, the ATF decided gunsmiths had to keep records (just like an FFL dealer) of the weapons they worked on, not a 4473 but if you they keep the weapon overnight they are required to maintain an acquisition and disposal record. These records are can be inspected at any time and must be turned over to the ATF when you decide to go out of business or retire. I, for one, refused to be part of their registry program.
(3)
Comment
(0)
SPC David S.
SPC David S.
>1 y
Yes the paperwork part is a bit nuts - I'm guessing not a lot of criminals will take a stolen gun used in a crime to a gunsmith. I'm not really sure what they are tracking other than linking a gun to a person.
(2)
Reply
(0)
SFC Retired
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
That’s exactly what they want to track, SPC David S..
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
PV2 Chase Holt
2
2
0
The work is expensive. I mean customer work on a rifle stock is a lot of and can take a long time. It can be too expensive for most people to want to pay for it.

Stuff like Glock/mp ect. Can have the parts replaced at home without any experience. The records and safety required are also crazy.

As far as trades go you have to work your butt off to make almost no many in many places and in many trades you are worked to death before you are old enough to retire.

I took a few classes from one of the top gunsmithing programs and quite frankly it wasn't beginner friendly and was very difficult for me .without advanced tools to pass the tests

A lot of people can also do the work at home. You won't have a lot of the custom hunting rifles etc.

Lastly, I went to school in NC there are few accredited gun smithing programs in the US. So the training and requirements are all over the place.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Maj Wayne Crist
2
2
0
Skilled trades in general are hurting. Few are welling to do the work to learn a profession. They estimate we are nearly a half a million shy mechanics. Tool and die makers, die sinkers can work as long as they able. My father at 76 was still getting job offers. Before retiring for health reasons GM hired a guy to move the dies and get his tools just to keep him on the job.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
1px xxx
Suspended Profile
I spent 4 years in the Smalls Arms shop at LeJeune, many moons ago. I looked into the training required for civilian weapons and the expense of the materials was atrocious, let alone the expansive paperwork involved to become a registered gunsmith.
PV2 Troy Lindstrand
1
1
0
Could be your area is extremely unfriendly politically to lawful gun owners. Same goes with electricians and plumbers. Todays society shows more respect to pieces of paper or celebrity than to the working stiff.
(1)
Comment
(0)
1px xxx
Suspended Profile
>1 y
Yep! New York! Democrat because of the f’ing City, but up here in the sticks we are very much armed and Republican.
Avatar small
SGT Small Arms/Artillery Repairer
1
1
0
In my experience it's a very difficult trade to get started in. You'll often have to open up your own shop in order to make a living and get experience. Several of the gunsmiths I've known aren't prone to taking on apprentices either. I was told by one that my online certificate I got in addition to military training during 91F AIT isn't good enough to take me on as an apprentice and was essentially worthless training.
(1)
Comment
(0)
1px xxx
Suspended Profile
>1 y
Exactly! Military weapons are not the same as civilian weapons. I got out thinking I could get in to Ithaca Gun Company… but they shut down local operations very shortly after discharge!
SGT Small Arms/Artillery Repairer
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
Sgt Michelle Matwiejow a lot of the same concepts apply between the two. The difference is the type of work that is done. Military armorers below depot level don't do machining or certain levels of repair. Most of what we do is inspections and replacing broken parts with minimal fitting required. If a receiver or another part that we don't have the tools or knowledge to repair is damaged we send it up to a depot level for repair or replacement. Amorers are capable of being apprentice gunsmiths but gunsmiths don't want to take the time to train them on the machining side of the job that was missing in MOS training.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
PFC Rickey Cook
0
0
0
Sorry brother but there's only a few places to get gunsmith education and certification..wait times averages 2-3yrs
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

How are you connected to the military?
  • Active Duty
  • Active Reserve / National Guard
  • Pre-Commission
  • Veteran / Retired
  • Civilian Supporter