Welcome to egunsmithingschools.com
Welcome to E Gunsmithing Schools!
Welcome to egunsmithingschools.com. We are here to provide you with information about the nation’s finest gunsmithing schools, and to give you tools you need to learn what it takes to become a professional gunsmith.
How to Become a Gunsmith – Gunsmithing Schools Across the United States
Many people have emailed me about gunsmithing schools in general – they tell me that they want to pursue their passion after years of working jobs they hate, and they ask me about how to become a gunsmith. Gunsmithing is both a practical hobby and an art form, one that requires both dedication and commitment to the craft. It is a very special job that requires a great deal of skill, requiring practicioners to make, modify and repair guns according to custom specifications. Gunsmiths require licenses to ply their trade in the United States, and acquiring the skills necessary to become a gunsmith requires specialized training.
What Are Your Options?
Half of the battle is knowing where to start. As a prospective gunsmith, you can go to an accredited college to learn the trade. Others take an interest in online courses. Many lean towards the later, but without professional oversight of your learning, there’s no guarantee that the education received is valid and practical, and given the nature of machine shop work and firearm creation, self-taught courses can prove hazardous to personal safety.
Don’t be so hasty to turn to online videos as sole guidance for your gunsmithing trade. Imagine learning an entire course through online videos. If a video’s instructions aren’t clear, who can you turn to to answer your questions? Accredited gunsmithing schools are usually the more prudent option.
Gunsmithing Apprenticeships
If you have a local gunsmithing shop nearby, you can ask the owner to take you on as an apprentice and teach you the trade. Costs will vary depending on the teacher, as will the outcome of such training. Negotiating the conditions of such an apprenticeship are left to the reader.
College Gunsmithing Courses
Prospective gunsmiths have the option of bachelor or associate degree programs, depending on the school they choose. A basic high school education is usually what’s required for gunsmith studies.
A suitable program will provide instruction in all techniques you need to master the gunsmithing trade. You’ll be introduced to such basics as gunsmithing tools, ammunition and ballistics, identifying various firearms, metalwork, gun repair technology, evaluating firearms, antique firearms, and gun shop management.
Notable Colleges with Gunsmithing Programs
Here’s a list of notable colleges that provide gunsmithing courses. Each listing below is also a link to an article about the school on this site.
- Yavapai College Gunsmithing Program, in Prescott, Arizona
- Trinidad State Junior College, in Trinidad, Colorado
- Colorado School of Trades, in Lakewood, Colorado
- Pine Technical College in Pine City, Arizona
- Piedmont Community College Gunsmithing School, in Roxboro, North Carolina
- Pennsylvania Gunsmith School, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Murray State College, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma
- Montgomery Community College, in Troy, North Carolina
- Lassen Community College, in Susanville, California
Further Reading
Below are further posts on egunsmithingschools.com that will be of use to you in your search for an appropriate school.