Gunsmithing Course

[Babalooie]

I'm semi retired with a part time job at a local gun shop. More and more, the boss has been asking me to try to repair guns that he has purchased. I have a mechanical background and have been able to figure out many issues, but I'm flying by the seat of my pants.

I'm looking for some gunsmithing training (book, on-line, video) and would appreciate recommendations.

I'd like to find training that would provide some form of certification, if possible.

 

[Tyrod]

but I'm flying by the seat of my pants.

Sounds like the typical gunsmith to me.

Good gunsmiths are rare.

Google gunsmithing schools. As with most professional crafts, certification means little. It's reputation that counts. If you only do one gunsmithing task and do it better than anyone else, folks will be flocking to your service.

 

[Babalooie]

Phoenix State University

Phoenix State University
​

Has anyone tried this place? Seems like an inexpensive way of getting into gunsmithing.

 

[dfariswheel]

The online "courses" are good only for taking your money.
As I've told people, if you were going to have heart surgery, would you want the surgeon to have learned how on an internet course.
These things are little better than outright scams.

The "Phoenix State University" is a notorious scam outfit. There IS NO campus or facility. Just a mail box. Do a Google search and you'll see lots of info on what a scam it is.

The best of the mail order courses are the AGI series. These too really can't prepare you to be a pro qualified to work on other peoples guns.
These are expensive, and you still don't have a master gunsmith looking over your shoulder and making corrections and giving advise. With internet and mail you never really know if you're actually doing things correctly.
A "certification" from either is worthless.
The only degree or certification that has any value is one from a top gunsmithing school.

Some options are to take mini courses. Many of the schools offer short courses in a specific subject, the NRA offers summer classes in a subject, and companies like Cylinder & Slide offer specific types of classes, usually in the 1911.
Some gun companies offer armorers courses that usually last only a couple of days.
These are usually limited to law enforcement or military armorers, and almost all of the above target these classes to people who already are professional gunsmiths who are wanting to expand their skills.
Most won't accept beginners, but you should ask.

By far the best way to become a real pro is to attend one of the professional gunsmithing schools.
These aren't cheap, and take at least a couple of years. However, they also often offer mini courses in a subject.

Here's the schools. The one's with the best reputation in the industry are Colorado School of Trades and Trinidad Jr College.

Colorado School of Trades
1575 Hoyt Street
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: 800-234-4594

Lassen Community College
P.O. Box 3000
Susanville, CA 96130
Phone: 530-257-4211

Modern Gun School
80 North Main Street, P.O. Box 846
St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: 800-493-4114

Montgomery Community College
1011 Page Street
P.O. Box 787
Troy, NC 27371
Phone: 800-839-6222

Murray State College
One Murray Campus
Tishomingo, OK 73460
Phone: 580-371-2371

Pennsylvania Gunsmith School
812 Ohio River Blvd.
Avalon
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
Phone: 412-766-1812

Piedmont Community College
1715 College Drive
P.O. Box 1197
Roxboro, NC 27573
Phone: 336-599-1181

Pine Technical Institute
900 4th Street
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 800-521-7463

Trinidad State Jr. College
600 Prospect
Trinidad, CO 81082
Phone: 800-621-8752

Yavapai College
1100 East Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
Phone: 520-776-2150

 

[Marksman]

I am a graduate of the gunsmithing program at Trinindad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado. The NRA offers Summer Gunsmithing Classes that last one week, most every topic in gunsmithing is covered. The courses are taught by experts in the gunsmithing industry whose specialty is the class topic. Check out TSJC's website for a complete description of the summer classes, many of the classes are also taught at other gunsmithing schools around the country whose location may be closer to you. Midway's Larry Potterfield has a comprehensive series of gunsmithing videos available on-line at no charge. They give you a good walk through show and tell regarding how to go about many gunsmithing jobs, well worth the time to view.

 

[Babalooie]

I live too far away from all of those schools. Travel is out of the question. Guess I'll keep flying by the seat of my pants.

 

[dfariswheel]

You can look into the AGI courses and possibly buy several of the gun-specific videos to get started.

Another option is to buy the Jerry Kuhnhausen shop manuals.
These were written as training aids for gunsmithing students.
Each manual addresses IN DEPTH a specific brand of gun.
As example the volume one Colt manual covers all the older Colt's like the Detective Special and Python, volume two covers the later guns like the Mark III and King Cobra models.
The S&W manual covers the "J", "K", "L", and "N" frame models.

These show in detail how these guns are repaired the FACTORY way.
There are no jack leg techniques shown, these are how the factories do it.
The price is affordable and these are the best info available on most of these firearms.
The manuals that cover military firearms are all new info, not just the usual reprints of old Ordnance Field manuals.

Brownells Search : Search Results for "shop manual" - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools - BROWNELLS

 

[Babalooie]

I've tried an AGI video before and it put me to sleep.

The Kunhausen books seem like a really good choice. I used one to work on a Ruger. There was so much information I had to read the section about five times to fully comprehend the procedure. I can deal with that.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[Elite Armory]

Has anyone gotten these books? Do these books cover antique revolvers also?

S&W Shop Manual

Colt Double Action Shop Manual

 

[dfariswheel]

The Kuhnhausen Volume One manual on the Colt's cover all small and medium frame Colt's as made from 1908 to 1969.
The guns covered are models like the Detective Special, Police Positive, Cobra, Official Police, original Trooper, Python etc.

Volume Two covers the later Colt's like the Mark III, Mark V, and King Cobra.
Neither manual covers the really old Colt's like the New Army & Navy series.
There is a manual for the Colt Single Actions and clones.

The S&W manual covers most S&W revolvers made since WWII, and since these are much the same as pre-war models, it's usable for them.
It doesn't cover the early 1900's models or any of the top breaks.

When using the manuals you have to PAY ATTENTION.
These were written as training aids for students. Kuhnhausen didn't hit you over the head with info. He assumed you'd be able to study the manuals and recognize important information when it appears without him having to put red flags on it.

 

[Elite Armory]

The Kuhnhausen Volume One manual on the Colt's cover all small and medium frame Colt's as made from 1908 to 1969.
The guns covered are models like the Detective Special, Police Positive, Cobra, Official Police, original Trooper, Python etc.

Volume Two covers the later Colt's like the Mark III, Mark V, and King Cobra.
Neither manual covers the really old Colt's like the New Army & Navy series.
There is a manual for the Colt Single Actions and clones.

The S&W manual covers most S&W revolvers made since WWII, and since these are much the same as pre-war models, it's usable for them.
It doesn't cover the early 1900's models or any of the top breaks.

When using the manuals you have to PAY ATTENTION.
These were written as training aids for students. Kuhnhausen didn't hit you over the head with info. He assumed you'd be able to study the manuals and recognize important information when it appears without him having to put red flags on it.

Great info, thanks!