Charliet0149
Active Member
I’m interested as to how you train to be a gunsmith ? - is this something you can do as a part time course ? , are there courses ? Or is it a dying trade ?
Gunsmithing - a dying trade ??
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Fosbery Holster
Well-Known Member
If you are that interested and it’s all you have ever dreamed of for the rest of your working career, phone, email, call in at all the gunsmiths you can think of not forgetting the most famous of English gunmakers, with the right background it’s possible you could find yourself an apprenticeship.
It is difficult to find a career in gun smithing but don’t give up, if it’s your dream follow it.
It is difficult to find a career in gun smithing but don’t give up, if it’s your dream follow it.
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
My pal has a gun shop here in Germany he has sent his two sons to the Ferlach, Austria gunsmithing college which is a 4 year course, one is now on his last year the other one is halfway through.
You do need to be half fluent in German though as one son told me two American adults have dropped out due to language difficulties.
The Austrian government pays fully for the course, you pay for acc/food/material = a Krieghoff receiver forging for your Meisterstueck etc. Plus you need to be accepted by the school.
www.htl-ferlach.at
Here is the programme content
You do need to be half fluent in German though as one son told me two American adults have dropped out due to language difficulties.
The Austrian government pays fully for the course, you pay for acc/food/material = a Krieghoff receiver forging for your Meisterstueck etc. Plus you need to be accepted by the school.
Fachschule für Büchsenmacher mit Betriebspraxis (4 Jahre mit Abschlussprüfung) | EUREGIO HTBLVA FERLACH
Die Büchsenmacherausbildung hat seit 1878 Tradition. Der Schwerpunkt liegt im praxisnahen Unterricht, im Arbeiten an CNC Maschinen und im CAD-Bereich. Im Laufe der 4 Jahre fertigt jeder seine Kipplaufbüchse. Die 4-jährige Ausbildung ist der Gesellenprüfung gleichgestellt und endet mit der...
Here is the programme content
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
My pal has a gun shop here in Germany he has sent his two sons to the Ferlach, Austria gunsmithing college which is a 4 year course, one is now on his last year the other one is halfway through.
You do need to be half fluent in German though as one son told me two American adults have dropped out due to language difficulties.
The Austrian government pays fully for the course, you pay for acc/food/material = a Krieghoff receiver forging for your Meisterstueck etc. Plus you need to be accepted by the school.
Fachschule für Büchsenmacher mit Betriebspraxis (4 Jahre mit Abschlussprüfung) | EUREGIO HTBLVA FERLACH
Die Büchsenmacherausbildung hat seit 1878 Tradition. Der Schwerpunkt liegt im praxisnahen Unterricht, im Arbeiten an CNC Maschinen und im CAD-Bereich. Im Laufe der 4 Jahre fertigt jeder seine Kipplaufbüchse. Die 4-jährige Ausbildung ist der Gesellenprüfung gleichgestellt und endet mit der...
Here is the programme content
Spent time over the summer being guided in Austria by a 15 year old who is at the Ferlach School. His English is much better than my German. A lot of the skill they learn are very transferable to any precision work. Not only do they learn how to make a beautiful gun raw metal, then forged, filed and finished by hand, they also learn how to do it by modern technologies and machines.
A precision engineering apprenticeship would give you the majority of the skills needed, but then you would have to apply these to gunsmithing. But yes it is a dying art esepecially as the innovative firearms, eg Blaser are now in effect precision engineering firms rather than gunmakers. Indeed in the UK if you look at the likes of say Mayfair engineering would suspect a lot of their work is much precision engineering for lots of other applications with the action making as just one product line. But it was ever thus - BSA as in Birmingham Small Arms is just as well known for its Motor Bikes as it was for weapons.
Artisanforge
Member
From my experience a good start is a toolroom appenticeship, then look for a repair job in the trade
paul o'
Well-Known Member
Your need an income to support your wishes as it takes time to build up a good name ,if I was young again i'd go back to the USA and become a pest again its there they are more willing to take on and show the how's and why's and whats wrong and the right way of all things smithing ! in the UK there is not enough to go around and make a good living for the ones now due to very good off the peg rifles and we brits hate to pay out for anything we can buy cheaper in a shop or on a web page or bid the seller down to a loss ? . Sure when your name is big your get work but as a new kid your last job has to be your best job every time . I wish you well in becoming a good smith but never become a plumber 
as above the tool maker Even at a night school will give you a very good insight to what skills your need even to pick up a file .
as above the tool maker Even at a night school will give you a very good insight to what skills your need even to pick up a file .
Go for it but make sure you have a second trade to fall back on. Plumbing is the one that springs to mind.
K
K
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
Stocking is probably where the money is. Folks are taller and need stocks lengthening or even new a total restock. The outlay is minimal especially if the customer provides the wood and the work is steady.
The trade in general is crying out for good stockers, the good ones are always flat out busy and huge waiting lists to get work done.
Pantograph machines can rough out modern stocks impressively. But when a re-stocking job is needed on an old English sidelock, the old school way of heading up and smoking is 100% the best. Particularly specialist stuff like Boss single triggers have to be done by hand.
Pantograph machines can rough out modern stocks impressively. But when a re-stocking job is needed on an old English sidelock, the old school way of heading up and smoking is 100% the best. Particularly specialist stuff like Boss single triggers have to be done by hand.
Ronin
Distinguished Member
From what I've seen recently, there appears to be a trend of:
Ask established riflesmiths advice and "how do I do this" on the internet forums (or come and see them in person pretending friendship) for a period of weeks, months and in some instances a couple of years.
Then set yourself up as an "expert" and base your business model on this...
Ask established riflesmiths advice and "how do I do this" on the internet forums (or come and see them in person pretending friendship) for a period of weeks, months and in some instances a couple of years.
Then set yourself up as an "expert" and base your business model on this...
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Suhl offers gunsmithing and engraver apprenticeships as well as other places in Germany. One young fella from Ireland recently went to Germany for a few years to learn the trade, learnt German too. When it comes to hand work my take is one should start with the trade possibly under 16yr age. All the guys that were 18 and above when I did my apprenticeship were just not as good. Theory part is OK but not hand skills. If one concentrates on cnc machining and lathe work then it might not be a big factor.
edi
edi
Back in the early 1970's, I wanted to learn to be a gunsmith, asked all the top names and a lot of the lesser known ones too but all replied in the negative, main reason was they could not see a future in the work even back then so were not taking anyone on!
It’s most certainly very niche, but effectively that can work in favour as not many are taught the proper old school skills and knowledge.
However now we seem to face a new threat, and a very big one at that - the militant vegans and Hitler like anti shooting groups! We seem to under attack almost constantly from them nowadays sadly. I just hope things keep busy as I’d be gutted to lose my job. And like everyone else on here I’m very keen on my stalking/foxing.
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
Had a half day at the Trinidad school of trades last November, they still do the mix of skills course.
IMO an apprenticeship in toolmaking would be about the best way into the gun trade and you can always do toolmaking / guage making if the gunning trade falls off.
Northwest
Well-Known Member
I know a very good toolmaker who is an excellent gunsmith, there are numerous parallels. The real snag with the whole deal is, as has been noted above, there is a big time lag between setting up and then being established. The advice of having a day job and get yourself established is good, but it can bite you in the ass as it can take a while to get some of the jobs actually finished and people sometimes cannot wait.
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