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Where Have All the Gunsmiths Gone?

Talyn

Talyn

SAINT
Founding Member

The Demand For Gunsmiths​

For the past six years, gun sales in the United States have numbered more than 1 million per month. Although the exact figure is not known, it’s estimated that civilians in the U.S. own roughly 500 million guns. That’s a lot of guns that need cleaning, routine maintenance, customization, modification, and repair.

More guns of all types are produced every year. Technology is changing, and it seems like every month there is something new and different. The more guns in circulation, the greater the need for gunsmiths. It’s estimated that there are roughly 4,500 or fewer gunsmiths actively working today, which if true, means there is a lot of work up for grabs for those entering the trade.


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They are going the same place that most "skilled trades" are going. There is a serious lack of work ethic in today's up and comers. Zero motivation for any type of blue color work. That is the reason so many support keeping illegals here in the USA. Too damn lazy to even make thier own bed when they get out of it in the morning. Let thier 35 year old "children" live at home instead of forcing them to become responsible contributors to society.
Okay, okay, had to pump the breaks there. Almost said it in the words I would normally use to describe those POS'.
thanks for allowing me to rant.
 
He’s right. For decades now “all” the kids go to college. Some prosper, most (who probably should never have been to college in the first place) get degrees in basket weaving or paper airplane design ( or some social engineering degree). And then wind up sponging off others or spending their days asking “you want fries with that”. Meanwhile trade schools see very few kids coming in. No one wants to get dirty or do physical work, so plumbers, carpenter, HVAC folks electricians and mechanics are few and far between. And those who elect to go into trades wind up making a lot more $$$ than many of their “educated” peers. Nephew is a plumber (team leader), several years ago he made $175k/yr.😏. Who’s the dummy? The educated guy or the one making $100/hr?
 
I do most of my own. That said there is no shortage of smiths in my neck of the woods. I wouldn’t take anything to any of the gun stores though. Well, Smitty’s is a gun store but really it’s an old dude who is primarily a gunsmith and just happens to have a pretty solid inventory of mostly hard to find guns for sale.
 
I won't try to guess my gunsmith's age, except to say he's likely in his 70s. He is very old school. He runs a store with a small inventory of ammo, and accessories. He is a Ruger dealer and he's got quite a few silencers. His shop is directly across the counter and he always has an assortment of guns in various stages of disassembly. He is also my main FFL guy.
 
One in particular in my area stands out above the others. He came highly recommended from the range I am a member at. When ever I asked the question everyone kept saying "bring it to Wayne". The issue I had was with my SA Operator, the front site had issues, tritium vial was wack and the white painted ring around it went only about 1/3 rd of the perimeter. SA offered two options, return to mother ship for repair or overnight new front site. When I called Wayne about R&R of site he said it would be about two weeks to get it done.
I opted for the site and to have Wayne do the swap.
The site arrived as promised via next day shipping. I brought the gun and site to Wayne the following day.
I was surprised at what he said next. "Let me show you around if you have a few minutes". I abliged.
The shop is located behind his home, we walked into a metal building that contained several CNC upright mill machines, two precision lathes and various other stations. There were two young men working that he explained were in an apprentice program that he offers. He then asked James to swap my front site right then and there. The whole process took about twenty minutes. They even fired a 10 round group from Ransom rest at 10 yards to verify install.
When I handed Wayne my debit card, he handed it back and said "tell you friends ". What a guy. I am a customer for life.
 
@Bassbob, i'm not as lucky as you on having gunsmiths in my area and i'm talking about 300+ mile range. on a few other forums people that's within the same area code as i are trying to find smiths also and these peeps are 240+ miles from me (some are closer). while i want to learn the trade as what we do are basic no need to not really smithing. most probably don't have that much daily business and need to have a 2nd income (depending on where you live). i found out there's a smith of some sort 40 odd miles from me that does limiting smith work (not sure of what all he does).
 
i bought 2 "semi fit" 226 barrels as that's about all i can handle for now unlike the "smith fit" barrels. i've done the semi fits before on m/p's w/o issues, but the 226 barrels are different. the m/p barrel only needed the top of the "hood" (front and back sides) to be filed to fit correctly. looks like the 226 barrels will need more than that? hopefully the chamber won't be an issue (i'll check that 1st before proceeding).
 
thing too is the schooling


how many real gunsmithing schools are there, and where are they located..???

oh sure, there may be "online schools, but the you have to buy everything...one school i looked into just for ***** and giggles, said you need to get a lathe......those damned things are costly

not everyone can get up and go to school several hundred, or thousands of miles away, when they have to pay rent to live there, then food, supplies, etc.etc.

then how many gunsmiths are in each state, where the graduate can get an apprenticeship job at..???

its not like an HVAC, Electricians, Auto/Diesel mechanics, plumbing school.......

those are in every state, being taught at voctech, or trade schools, or technical schools.

so those students are home every day, maybe working a part time job to make ends meet, etc.etc.

inconveniences may be the bane of the gunsmithing trade.
 
Old_Me said:
thing too is the schooling


how many real gunsmithing schools are there, and where are they located..???

oh sure, there may be "online schools, but the you have to buy everything...one school i looked into just for ***** and giggles, said you need to get a lathe......those damned things are costly

not everyone can get up and go to school several hundred, or thousands of miles away, when they have to pay rent to live there, then food, supplies, etc.etc.

then how many gunsmiths are in each state, where the graduate can get an apprenticeship job at..???

its not like an HVAC, Electricians, Auto/Diesel mechanics, plumbing school.......

those are in every state, being taught at voctech, or trade schools, or technical schools.

so those students are home every day, maybe working a part time job to make ends meet, etc.etc.

inconveniences may be the bane of the gunsmithing trade.
Click to expand...
i'd bet most firearm manufacturers DON'T hire certified smiths. although somewhere in the process line those that do the fitting are. these places that are the aftermarket or custom places hire people that can operate a machine as they don't need to be a smith...........maybe that's why some aftermarket and custom barrel makers get bad reviews! i want to know more than just being able to chamber, thread, profile, flue and rifle a barrel, i want to be able to fix issues that need more than a lego fix. the trade school in co i'm looking at offers specific trades/branches like shotguns, 1911's and so on for fall and spring semesters along with some during the summer by more specific brands. for lets say sig, s/w or other brands they have their own schools or get offered by certain smiths.
 
WHERE HAVE ALL THE GUNSMITHS GONE?

To Tahiti, where they’re drinking Mai Tai’s on the beach everyday with many of the fine custom leather holster craftsman that have disappeared as well…which is why it takes 10 months to have quality holsters crafted these days (without paying a “move me to the front of the line” fee!
 
Lab4Us said:
WHERE HAVE ALL THE GUNSMITHS GONE?

To Tahiti, where they’re drinking Mai Tai’s on the beach everyday with many of the fine custom leather holster craftsman that have disappeared as well…which is why it takes 10 months to have quality holsters crafted these days (without paying a “move me to the front of the line” fee!
Click to expand...
Nope, they went to turkey to build @KillerFord1977 's guns 🤣
 
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