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?
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?
