Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Bath, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
    Age
    36
    Posts
    54
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Gunsmith school or courses

    Does anyone know of any gunsmith schools in the valley? Please do not respond and tell me to research as i have done plenty of it. I am just wondering what you all know. Thank you!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
    (Chester County)
    Posts
    81
    Rep Power
    472999

    Default Re: Gunsmith school or courses

    I researched this close to five years ago. I was laid off and thought about a career change. Closest Gunsmith school I had found at that time was in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania Gunsmith School). Living in Eastern, PA and already married and about to start a family, this wasn't an option.

    I also looked at a course that was either on-line or they sent you instruction DVDs (can't remember, it was a while ago), can't remember the name of the company either. I'm a hands-on person. Learning to disaasmble a rifle over the internet or from a video just didn't right.

    This probably isn't helping you, but I figured I'd share what I experienced years ago.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Bath, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
    Age
    36
    Posts
    54
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Gunsmith school or courses

    Oh no problem. Any input is better than no input. I too am having the same issues. Have a 3 month old and def not willing to go to pittsburgh for schoool and i too am a hands on and i also feel you can't learn as well online. If i happen to find something i will make sure to post though...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Philly Burbs, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    839
    Rep Power
    21474852

    Default Re: Gunsmith school or courses

    I was intrigued until I saw that gunsmiths average $25k/year or so...

    http://gunsmithsalary.com/

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Bath, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
    Age
    36
    Posts
    54
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Gunsmith school or courses

    This is true, the salary for a gunsmith is kind of low, however if it is only a gunsmith business. If you pair being a gunsmith with also the sale of guns it gets a little better depending on how well you do throughout the year.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Near Indiana, Pennsylvania
    (Indiana County)
    Posts
    6,181
    Rep Power
    21474858

    Default Re: Gunsmith school or courses

    Many gunsmiths don't work full time. They work out of their homes or garages and IMO this allows them to not work whenever they don't want to work. Call upi almost any gunsmith that works out of his home, he will have odd hours and won't be there most of the time.
    Also, there are parts of gunsmithing that many smiths don't or won't do, stockmaking and bluing quickly come to mind. A good stockmaker will have work, and will make more than 25K if he actually works.
    Lastly, working at a place like Gander Mtn might not pay huge paychecks, but the exposure to factory reps and industry insiders is invaluable.

    Any good smith that actually puts time in will be so swamped with work, that if he only makes 25K a year, he is giving his work away.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
    (Blair County)
    Age
    36
    Posts
    231
    Rep Power
    672

    Default Re: Gunsmith school or courses

    Their is absolutely no lack of work in the gunsmith business if you get good at something, and that is the key.

    Every gunsmith I have ever used specialized in what he did. Weather it be 1911's, MP's, Glocks, long range rifles, AR15's, or shotguns. None of them ever pick up the phone and say, "oh yea ship it over, I have nothing in the shop so it will be done in a day or two". None of them are cheap either. I've never had a "Walmart" style gunsmith who works on everything.

    If you don't have a lathe and mill, that is really going to limit you. Most of the work that needs done requires those tools.

    If you have the drive, the opportunity is there. Maybe someday I'll be shipping you my guns for work.

    As for the school, I have no idea only one I know of is Pittsburgh.
    I can take an assbeating like its nobodys business" - Doug Bryant

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Media, Pennsylvania
    (Delaware County)
    Posts
    2,088
    Rep Power
    5581445

    Default Re: Gunsmith school or courses

    The reason why gunsmiths do not make that much money is the fact that parts sometimes can be difficult to obtain and for the smith to fabricate the part(s) can be cost prohibitive considering labor costs. As far as the modern arms are concerned, there are more companies today offering life time guarantees. Certainly cheaper to send it back to the factory.

    I know a few smiths that have been in business for years, typical of the old guys that seem to populate the trade. They both have wives with good jobs, both complain about the cost of liability insurance. I do not know if either would pursue the trade if they were returned to their youth.

Similar Threads

  1. gunsmith courses?
    By Tele in forum Gunsmithing
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: January 26th, 2014, 11:08 PM
  2. PA Gunsmith School
    By hix45 in forum General
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: October 5th, 2008, 09:54 AM
  3. Replies: 16
    Last Post: March 10th, 2008, 08:53 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •