One of the Premier Gunsmithing Schools in the Country

Trinidad State Junior College is well-known among gunsmithing schools in the United States, and is the oldest community college in Colorado. Founded in 1925, the school is located in Trinidad Colorado, with a satellite campus in Alamosa, Colorado, with a total enrollment of about 2,200 students.. The school is widely touted as one of the finer gunsmithing schools in the country.

 

The TSJC gunsmithing school offers a 2 year gunsmithing degree program. This highly popular program is offered in the spring and fall semesters. The program consists of basics such as firearms safety, machine shop courses, stockmaking, firearms finishing, and repairs.

Trinidad, Colorado, is a community of about 10,000-12,000 people situated in the Rocky Mountains about 15 miles north of New Mexico and 80 miles south of Pueblo. The city offers free tours on the Trinidad Trolley, and year-long geocaching, and events throughout the year. The city sports a unique character, with a great deal of Victorian archtecture, unusual for a city this far west. The region also has a rugged wilderness for students to explore.

Trinidad State and the NRA

Summer Gunsmithing Program

Having had a long and fruitful affiliation with the National Rifle Association, Trinidad State Junior College also offers the NRA Summer Gunsmithing Program. The courses are well-suited for all students, both novice gunmakers and professionals. The school offers one and two week courses in a wide variety of gunsmithing fields, such as stockmaking, engraving, checkering, and custom bluing, as well as related subjects such as knifemaking and scrimshaw, and the assembly of popular models such as the 1911 pistol.

The majority of classes are available for about 350 dollars a week, and housing in the student dorms at around 100 dollars a week. It’s important to note that students will need to bring their own hand tools, and all materials necessary for the completion of the firearm, including the weapon itself. Of course, students will need to comply with local laws concerning gun ownership and possession.

The local Bill Prator gun range, located on County Road 24-6 southeast of Trinidad, is available for student use while taking part in the program. It is newly remodeled, and features a covered range for both pistols and rifles, as well as five concrete shooting-stations.

TSJC Gunsmithing Schools’ Past and Present

Established in the April of 1925, this college was initially housed within Trinidad High School, the college sharing both the faculty and facilities with the school. In 1935, Trinidad State Junior College courses were relocated to a remodeled Tillotson Academy, located on Prospect Street. In the college’s initial years, its courses ranged from Arts and Science Degrees and teacher training courses. The college experienced some anxiety as to where it must be located until in 1939, TSJC became autonomous, followed by its permanent structure which was first built in the year 1941. It was named the Berg Administration Building, named after Mr. Albert Berg who was a member of the committee of the junior college for years. From that initial building, the college has slowly seen improvements and expansions and now, from a mere 73 students, the colleges’ two campuses is already catering to more than 2,200 students aspiring to finish quality courses.

While it is the oldest state college in the Colorado area, it is far from being outdated. The curriculum offered by Trinidad State Junior College is evolving continuously in order to keep up with the dynamic changes in both the community and the needs of its students. As of now, the College offers several 9-month certification programs as well Associate Degrees.

If you are searching through gunsmithing schools to jumpstart your career, Trinidad State Junior College is well worth considering.