Gunsmiths

[CB3]

My perspective:

There are armorers and there are gunsmiths.

Law enforcement and military and manufacturers train armorers, most of whom are parts measurers and swappers. This is a valuable service in a field littered with spare and upgrade parts, and in truth, a service that handles probably 90% of all of our gun "repair" needs.

Even a competent tinkerer, like myself, with some basic tools and some specialized ones ordered from eager sellers on the internet, can perform many armorer level repairs. Yet if I need a barrel shortened and threaded, I need at least a machinist, and preferably a gunsmith with experience doing such work (I have one).

Gunsmiths can make guns, make parts, create solutions out of the box. They have different tools, different experience, a different range of talents (acquired and gifted) and are rightfully a rare breed.

Now, the market for gun services has expanded as gun owners, especially myriads of new ones unqualified to do basic maintenance and care on their own guns have multiplied. Yet many want upgrades, customizations, and even silly little things like getting a slide stop to release easier. Most of these tasks can be addressed by a competent armorer.

So as demand for real gunsmiths expands, there has apparently not been a concomitant growth in the profession. Why? Perhaps it is because of us as clients? We can be demanding, unrelenting clients. There are so many of us after the same slice of the pie that good gunsmiths may actually have to choose their clients and projects, which leaves other potential clients aggravated at being shut off from a service they need.

There is an overwhelming demand, but relatively few armorers or machinists seem to be advancing into gunsmithing. Is it because they're concerned with the nitch profession eating them up? Not enough reward (personal as well as financial)? Does it take too long to get really good? Where are available masters to whom one can apprentice?

I don't have any facts to back up this hypothesis. Any other theories?

 

[2152hq]

You won't find many 'General Gunsmiths' around. There's so much there to know and have the skills to be able to do everything, people simply don't want to put in the time to learn. They want to earn and who can blame them.

Taking in the small repair and D&T type jobs isn't satisfying to most newer gunsmiths either. They see the Boutique 'smiths on the magazine covers and that's where they want to be. Again who can blame them.
Engravers are the same,,Stockmakers are the same.

To get there it takes time, effort, some luck w/ connections but most of all a Specialty.
That's where the Engraver, the Stockmaker, Custom Gun'Maker" makes the highlight reel.
Then they feel the next stop is doing business with the big money crowd because of the publicity.
A nice fluff website, big prices, setup at the elite shows, do work for Hollywood stars. Don't contact me unless it's something absolutely worth my time.

It happens sometimes that way,,often it does not.

But staying low key as the guy in the small shop that'll fix the stubborn safety on your WesternField SxS , or can fix the Stevens .22 auto loader that jams all the time,,(I think he has some old parts),,,is not the picture many new gunsmiths see for themselves if they choose to enter this field.

But those are the General Repair Gunsmiths that are still needed.
I think the 'hobby' gunsmiths (part timers) could fill that void. They kind of do already to a small extent.
But regulations and requirements for an FFL lic to work on customers guns, liability, local regs can keep that from being bigger than it is.