Potential Gunsmith needs funding.

[Rabidog13]

Im not sure what topic this should be under so ill put it here.

I am a young firearm enthusiast seeking a career as a gunsmith. I am looking to start my own gunsmithing business, but i can not afford loans to get started. I am hoping that someone can point me in the direction of some grants or other finical aid. You can post any information here or email it to me at rabidog13@yahoo.com. Thanks for your help.

[Teach]

Get a job, save your money, read everything you can about the business, buy some equipment, and start doing work you can accomplish profitably. Gunsmithing is like any other business- - - -starting up on borrowed money is a sure recipie for disaster. Virtually all small businesses that fail do so because of cash flow problems, and beginning things while facing a mountain of debt from borrowing money for an education is a really poor business model. One of the books I started with many years ago was "Do It Yourself Gunsmithing" by Jim Carmichael. It's out of print now, but used copies are available at online sources like Amazon, etc. Another good one is "Gunsmithing At Home, Lock, Stock and Barrel" by John Traister.

I started tinkering with guns over 30 years ago because I couldn't afford the custom rifles I wanted to buy, so I had to learn to build them. Gunsmithing can be a good career, but there aren't any shortcuts to developing the skills you'll need. If there is a community college or a tech school in your area that offers courses in machining or welding, I'd strongly encourage you to take advantage of those opportunities. The mechanical skills involved in building or repairing guns are no different than those you'd need to do custom cabinet work, or be a machinist, etc.- - - -it's just the combination of using those skills to do good gun work that makes you a "gunsmith" instead of a "tool and die" worker, or a member of any other skilled trade.

Once you get a little experience and/or education, look for a smith somewhere who is willing to mentor you in the specialty skills you'll need to be a successful gun butcher! Most professionals really want to see their skills passed on to the next generation. It seems to be a real waste to make a newbie learn all the little tricks that make for a successful career on his own!
Jerry

[ThatMattGuy]

^^ What he said! Get a full time job. Save your money rethink this plan in 20 years. lol

[Jermanator]

As a small business owner and a builder (glorified carpenter), I hope you take the challenges that Teach has presented to you to heart. The most important part is to find a good mentor.

I wish you luck.

[robert38-55]

Teach speaketh the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take Teach's advice, you will a lot happier in the long run!

[Rabidog13]

I appreciate the response, and i have been doing all of those things (except a job ive been looking and nothing has come available). I was just hoping for a faster track to my dreams. I will continue to do what Teach suggested, but i will also continue to search for funding to move it along a little faster. Thanks for the replies.

[Teach]

That funding needs to be earned money, not borrowed. The world is crying for skilled tradesmen, so learn a profitable skill and put it to use. The "occupy" bunch is a prime example of what happens to people who borrow tons of money to get a worthless degree. Machinists, mechanics, plumbers, welders, and particularly computer specialists can virtually name their price in the job market. Good luck to you! If you happen to be near middle Tennessee, I'd be happy to share whatever skills I can to help you get started.
Jerry

[rbsivley]

Good luck to you! If you happen to be near middle Tennessee, I'd be happy to share whatever skills I can to help you get started.
Jerry

Now there is a chance of a lifetime. If you can take him up on it son that's a deal.

[Jayhawker]

I appreciate the response, and i have been doing all of those things (except a job ive been looking and nothing has come available). I was just hoping for a faster track to my dreams. I will continue to do what Teach suggested, but i will also continue to search for funding to move it along a little faster. Thanks for the replies.

Remain mobile....move to the job if you have to....sitting around waiting for the job to come to you isn't going to help you realize your dream

[robert38-55]

Originally Posted by Teach

Good luck to you! If you happen to be near middle Tennessee, I'd be happy to share whatever skills I can to help you get started.
Jerry

Now there is a chance of a lifetime. If you can take him up on it son that's a deal.

[ThatMattGuy]

I appreciate the response, and i have been doing all of those things (except a job ive been looking and nothing has come available). I was just hoping for a faster track to my dreams. I will continue to do what Teach suggested, but i will also continue to search for funding to move it along a little faster. Thanks for the replies.

Let me know what I need to step in here and tell my story.....AGAIN! lol

[tv_racin_fan]

I appreciate the response, and i have been doing all of those things (except a job ive been looking and nothing has come available). I was just hoping for a faster track to my dreams. I will continue to do what Teach suggested, but i will also continue to search for funding to move it along a little faster. Thanks for the replies.

Thereis no "FAST" track. I wish there was myself.

I want to open an underground black powder friendly range. I know what some of the "different" issues are, the main one is not the smoke but actually it is the unburned and burning powder that comes out of the barrel.

Even a modern smokeless powder can be ejected from a functioning firearm and generally some is in every firearm. I believe I have solved that issue BUT I do not have the cash available to do it. One day.. maybe an "Obama Grant"... interestingly enough "Obama Stimulus" funds were used not far down the road to build a range or were scheduled to (may not have done so due to political pressure)...

I know that firearms expell unburned powder.. a gun smith and I forget where he was.. he had one of those snails that allows him to function check a firearm in his shop... customer comes in wiaht a black powder firearm.. loaded he wants some work done on.. the gunsmith stuck the end of the barrel into the snail and pulled the trigger... that snail just about exploded in his face.. it did a HUGH whoomp.. scared the bejesus out of the smith and the customer. Guys had this indoor range... black powder friendly.. guy walks in sets himself up fires off the first shot and all the unburned powder out on the range floor flashed off... scared the bejesus out of everyone there... I KNOW it happens from my own experiences. It was doing some research for my range that I found out about those occurences and there are a ton more documented. Thank GOD or whoever you wish that no one was hurt in those instances. I think I have a cure for this issue BUT I aint got the cash to open a range.

I thank you for asking this question because I want to learn to smith and I want my son to become one.. we like firearms...