Gunsmithing is the profession of making or repairing firearms, with a special emphasis on portable guns and equipment. The profession is often compared to or misinterpreted as the work of an armorer, a position that truly specializes in keeping weapon equipment in quality condition and whose work in repairs is not as extensive. Gunsmiths are trained to repair and mend a firearm back to its original factory condition. They can customize or alter a gun or other type of firearm to particular specifications, and gunsmithing also entails renovation, which mostly deals with the administering of metal finishes onto a firearm. Firearms manufacturers, law enforcement, the military, stores specializing in sports equipment or athletic goods, and small or locally owned gun shops all serve as potential employers of skilled gunsmiths.

Gunsmithing combines the skills required of an artisan, a metalworker, an expert carpenter, and a mechanic professional. Meticulousness, an eye for detail, and pinpointed accuracy are among the most important character and work ethic traits demanded by gunsmithing. They must also display a mastery of such fields as chemistry and ballistics in addition to shop or crafts-related mathematics. Finally, there is an abundance of legal regulation at the local, state, and federal level, to which all gunsmithing professionals must adhere. 

Many gunsmiths learn their trade through military training or by apprenticing a master craftsman. Another popular way of picking up necessary gunsmithing skills is via training from a vocational or community college, or through a correspondence school. Gunsmiths in training are also advised to find classes in basic machinery to bolster their expertise and professionalism. The job outlook for gunsmiths unfortunately appears to be on the decline, and only those gunsmiths who have the best training and reputations will be able to count on reliable work into the future.

Career Specializations

• Custom Building or Designing: Professional riflemen enlist gunsmiths in this specialty to construct unique guns from raw materials; machinist skills are particularly important here.
• Finishing: Finishers understand how to use chemical processes on a weapon's metal components in order to corrode the steel, in a process known as mottling the gun's tempered colors. 
• Stockmaking: Chisels, files, and saws are employed by professionals in this field to carve and fit gun stocks for a gun's metal portion.
• Engraving: Gun owners may consult a gunsmith to use tools like die-sinker chisels and engraving systems to carve names and phrases into the firearm.
• Pistolsmith: This concentration describes gunsmiths who work primarily with pistols and revolvers.

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Degree Levels

• Certificate in Gunsmithing: 1 year to complete
• Associate Degree in Gunsmithing: 2 years to complete
• Diploma in Gunsmithing (from trade schools): 1-2 years to complete

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Education & Certification Requirements

One of the primary ways to pick up the gunsmithing trade is by apprenticeship. Young people who are interested in this line of work should do research to find professional gunsmiths near them and request the opportunity to volunteer service hours for them in exchange for knowledge of the trade. Alternatively, aspirants can pursue a gunsmithing degree, the process to earn this lasting from one to two years. A combination of work as an apprentice and formal education is best for those looking for work with the government or military, or those looking to open up their own establishments in competitive municipalities.

Courses that students can expect to take in gunsmithing include custom barrel making, blueprints and other such gunsmithing basics, stockmaking, and basic repair. Gunsmithing education is primarily experiential in nature, which means that students should expect an ample amount of hands-on work with firearms and the tools needed for their care. In addition, students may need to purchase some tools on their own for class work. 

Licensing for gunsmithing is complex. A federal firearms license is a requirement, available from the U. S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Copious paperwork, fingerprinting, and a background are par for the course in earning this licensing. (U.S. Department of Labor)

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Salary Information

Gunsmithing as a career has a very particular scale of experience specification, which bears a strong influence on how much they can expect for their work. U.S. Department of Labor specifies three experience levels, Level I (conveying basic understanding), Level II (more complex firearm construction), and Level III (expert, no supervision required, unlike for the other levels). Depending on their experience rank, a gunsmith can expect to earn between $34,000 and $52,000 per annum for their services. (U.S. Department of Labor)

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Job Outlook

Unfortunately, most estimates indicate that the gunsmithing profession is on the decline, in terms of growth in the number of available positions to arrive in the future. Well-trained gunsmiths, however, -- especially those who have placed a good deal of consideration into gaining experience on the job -- will do well to find employment by such routes as the military (all of its branches), privately owned gunsmith stores and shops, and firearm companies. Demand for gunsmiths can also vary immensely from state to state, as firearms are considered to be more socially acceptable in certain regions of the country. (U.S. Department of Labor)

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Related Careers

Locksmiths are required to demonstrate similar professional flair and expertise in their trade as that demanded by gunsmithing. These experts specialize in designing, repairing, and maintaining locks and lock-based systems. Like gunsmith aces, great locksmiths can be hired by the government or military, including professional security corporations and companies that focus on safeguarding banks and financial facilities. Education for locksmithing, also like that for gunsmiths, can take place via an apprenticeship, an excellent way to learn the required skills in a practical and work-centered fashion. 

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