Gunsmithing schools?

kmeiersks

Currently getting my degree in Criminal Justice but would like to be a certified gunsmith as a hobby or fallback job. Anybody know a good school? Possibly in the mid-west.

Teach

Not in the midwest, but the Colorado School of Trades has a very good gunsmithing program. A couple of our regular folks are graduates- - - -they should be along pretty soon to give you a firsthand evaluation. It's also possible to pick up the individual skills such as welding, maching, and woodworking at a local community college, and find a local smith to mentor those skills into the combination necessary to specialize in guns. Stay away from "correspondence" schools- - - -most of them are a total ripoff!
Jerry

kmeiersks

Teach to the rescue again, thanks. I was told a long time ago "do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life."

rbsivley

Teach wrote: »

... Stay away from "correspondence" schools- - - -most of them are a total ripoff!
Jerry

I can't figure how they can teach/train someone the hands on trades thru correspondence. They must be getting a few bites because I get some thing from one of them ever now and then.

Teach

We get a few of those wannabe gun butchers on the forum occasionally- - - -asking questions so they can pass their online exams! The usual scam is to sell somebody a series of books, or now it's CD's, I guess, then give the student a test, and issue a "certificate of completion" once enough tuition has been siphoned out of his bank account. The "trade" isn't important- - - - -it could be radio/TV repair, computer programming, or a variety of other get-rich-quick schemes that gullible people fall for. If he's lucky, the "graduate" might find a shop somewhere that will take him on as an apprentice for low or no pay to actually develop some hands-on skills.

Of course, it's possible to do it my way- - - -spend a couple of decades tinkering with your own stuff and read everything gun-related you can get your hands on!
Jerry

kmeiersks

There's no substitute for hands on teaching.

snake284-1

Books are great, but only when combined with hands on experience and teaching.

robert38-55

kmeiersks wrote: »

Teach to the rescue again, thanks. I was told a long time ago "do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life."

You Got that right kmeiersks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Teach wrote:

Not in the midwest, but the Colorado School of Trades has a very good gunsmithing program. A couple of our regular folks are graduates- - - -they should be along pretty soon to give you a firsthand evaluation. It's also possible to pick up the individual skills such as welding, maching, and woodworking at a local community college, and find a local smith to mentor those skills into the combination necessary to specialize in guns. Stay away from "correspondence" schools- - - -most of them are a total ripoff!
Jerry

:agree::that: Teach correct me if I am wrong but IIRC I think they was a few gunsmithing schools in NC at one time or another somewhere around Goldsboro,NC ?

robert38-55

snake284-1 wrote: »

Books are great, but only when combined with hands on experience and teaching.

Snake you got that right!!!!!!!!!!!!

Teach wrote:

Of course, it's possible to do it my way- - - -spend a couple of decades tinkering with your own stuff and read everything gun-related you can get your hands on!
Jerry

Yea one can Teach, and I must say you did pretty darn good at it too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess this is what we call the 'School of Hard Knocks' or the University of Trial and Error..

ThatMattGuy

I went to Piedmont Community College in Roxboro N.C. and took the gunsmithing course there back in the early/mid 90's Back then it was a fantastic course. The two instructors were top notch. They have since retired so I can not speak of the quality now but I can imagine it has changed much. The tooling and machinery at the time was in excellent shape, excellent bluing equipment and so on. It was a really great school. Plus it was A LOT of fun! Everyone was always laughing and joking and playing pranks on each other. It was always a good time.

My problem was I was just coming out of high school and was not finacially ready or mature enough to do anything with what I learned. Plus who wants to give a kid a gun to reblue or repair....what could he possibly know right? I had a lot going against me and a lot of it was my fault. I would recomend picking one specialty and sticking with it. I can not do ANYTHING with a piece of wood other then screw it up. Repairs...meh...HOWEVER I can polish up a piece of metal and reblue it into the most beautiful thing you ever saw! haha

Absolutely stay away from "gunsmithing by mail" scams. Do not under ANY circumstances do this! lol There are a lot of great schools out there. If you are on the east coast I would obviously recommend the gunsmithing course at PCC. Go into one with an open mind and willing to learn. In the end the instruction you soak up in the course is going to make you better.

ThatMattGuy

Teach wrote: »

We get a few of those wannabe gun butchers on the forum occasionally- - - -asking questions so they can pass their online exams! The usual scam is to sell somebody a series of books, or now it's CD's, I guess, then give the student a test, and issue a "certificate of completion" once enough tuition has been siphoned out of his bank account. Jerry

Actually I think I made fun of him enough that he finally stopped coming back hahaha

jbp-ohio

JenniferSDI wrote: »

Hi! It looks like you're looking for hands-on/on-campus, so not sure if this would be a good fit, but I work for Sonoran Desert Institute and we have a great distance curriculum (nationally accredited). Not for everyone, but for those who can't move somewhere to attend school, it's great. Let me know if you'd want more info...I'd be happy to get some current students, grads, etc to talk to you! Hope that helps in some way! Best of luck!

School's website is www.sdi.edu
We're on Facebook, too, and you can reach out to students there...people usually respond pretty well. www.facebook.com/sdischools

Jennifer
[email protected] if you want to email directly!

Teach wrote: »

We get a few of those wannabe gun butchers on the forum occasionally- - - -asking questions so they can pass their online exams! The usual scam is to sell somebody a series of books, or now it's CD's, I guess, then give the student a test, and issue a "certificate of completion" once enough tuition has been siphoned out of his bank account. The "trade" isn't important- - - - -it could be radio/TV repair, computer programming, or a variety of other get-rich-quick schemes that gullible people fall for. If he's lucky, the "graduate" might find a shop somewhere that will take him on as an apprentice for low or no pay to actually develop some hands-on skills.

If any other prospective smiths see this, if you aren't willing to move to the school, take precision machining from your nearest vocational school. Threading a barrel is really not something you can learn on-line.

Teach

Jennifer, we've got a couple of really good chiropractors on the forum. If you throw your shoulder out or joint while you're trying to pat yourself on the back, I'm sure they will be willing to "correspond" with you about what you can do to relieve the pain. Mail-order chiropractic- - - -that's just about as ridiculous as getting gunsmith training long distance!
:rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao:
Jerry

BigDanS

That Colorado school looks wonderful , 2 years of training. I want to go....

D

kmeiersks

Seeing as how this thread has been brought back from the dead, I think its safe to assume this is SPAM. So spam hunter corps... Fire at will.:spam:"imoit:

Teach

kmeiersks wrote: »

spam hunter corps... Fire at will.:spam:"imoit:

I hope they let it stay put for awhile- - - -I'd like to read the "lady's" response! Not holding my breath until it happens, though!
:devil:
Jerry

jaywapti

Teach wrote: »

I hope they let it stay put for awhile- - - -I'd like to read the "lady's" response! Not holding my breath until it happens, though!
:devil:
Jerry

OK Jerry, I'll just put my $00.02 in. In 1960 I apprenticed with a well known custom smith for 2 years, I wished I could have stayed with them for at least 3 more. I did take there advice and took some machine shop, and welding classes, and got every book on diagrams, assembly, gunsmithing, etc. I'm sure most here would agree that looking at a pic. and having the gun in front of you are two different worlds. All the books and reading will never replace hands on experence.

JAY