Working on designing, repairing, and constructing firearms might be your hobby, and before deciding about opting for this career, you should read about its pros and cons. Is Gunsmithing a Good Career?
Gunsmithing is a career that involves technical knowledge of designing, manufacturing, repair, and restoration of firearms.
We are not answering this question; instead, we are listing the pros and cons of the gunsmithing career, and we will let you decide whether it is good or not.
Before contemplating the pros and cons of being a gunsmith, we should first know what it is actually.
Gunsmith
A gunsmith repairs, designs, and modifies guns. Gunsmiths use techniques like engraving or carving to add decorative touches to the guns, and they also use specific types of machinery to perform their work. The main work of a gunsmith involves the following functions.
Ensuring smooth functioning of the guns. They take care that guns remain in good and safe conditions.
Assessment of the firearm. They check for the problem in the functionality of the firearms and fix it.
Their work also involves techniques like metalwork, woodwork, fabrications, parts fitting, lathe turning, milling, grinding, and many other operations.
The Pros of being a gunsmith
A chance to earn from your passion. It is rewarding to earn from the things that you enjoy doing.
To become a professional gunsmith, it’s not compulsory to go to high-class universities. You can learn the necessary things through the courses offered by trade schools.
There’s no limit to the possibilities to find a job as a gunsmith. One can work in factories, gun shops, even in the military.
People value your opinion. Working for several years gives you specialization in the field, and your designs and other devices will be considered for various works.
Your work adds safety to the life of people. It gives a sense of satisfaction to work for the benefit of other people.
It is challenging to be a gunsmith, but no one likes to do the same work repeatedly.
You can remain relevant. As firearms can’t get replaced, they may be redesigned or updated according to the needs, but these are prioritized for one’s security.
According to GunSafe.org, approximately 273 million guns are owned by U.S. Citizens. According to DegreeDirectory.com, the gunsmith profession will remain in demand soon.
Cons of Gunsmithing career
Exposure to firearms residues. Your work involves continuous exposure to firearms and their residues which contain harmful materials. It not only puts your health at risk but also the health of your family.
Your work involves working with specific types of machinery. Handling them is not easy, that’s why proper training is necessary. Sometimes even professionals meet with injuries, so for someone new, it will be a matter of proper care; otherwise, it can lead to serious injuries.
Riskier to work with weapons. While repairing weapons, you might accidentally fire them and injure yourself or other people near you. It means that you have to deal with fear continuously either to risk your health or get an injury or anything else.
It requires a certain age to become a gunsmith. Since the job needs decision-making, handling risky weapons, and dealing with types of machinery, a maturity level is necessary for a person.
In case you decide to focus on the benefits of a gunsmithing career and start your journey as a gunsmith, we have further information about the steps of being a gunsmith.
How can one become a gunsmith?
Educational needs
There’s no specific educational qualification to become a gunsmith. Just a high-school degree or any equivalent degree and some training for the trade or technical schools on gunsmithing. One can also take training through an apprenticeship with experienced professionals. The educational path is very simple, but it takes years of practice to become skilled in gunsmithing.
After taking the training and apprenticeship, one can start searching for jobs. There are many job opportunities in the industry. One can find work under some gun manufacturers or in the military.
One can start their own business. It takes years of experience to start a business. The experience also helps to expand the business.
One can also work as a teacher at one of the gunsmith schools. They can pass this way on the knowledge they have gained from their experiences.
Salary of a gunsmith
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics class gunsmiths under metal and plastic machine workers. And according to its surveys, the median pay of a gunsmith is $31,910 per year. The salary payment also depends on the regional differences, talent, and experience of a person.
Licensing
The rules of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives require gunsmiths to hold the license to practice gunsmithing.
It needs a license even to continue engraving or repair work. And other training and information about it are provided during the training course. Without the license, gunsmiths can’t legally continue their work. If someone wants to trade firearms into other states, they need the license for that too.
Opportunities after being a gunsmith
Since you know the path, there are the following opportunities that a gunsmith can grab.
Custom Gunsmith Builder/Designer
These professionals make guns from scratch and add custom features according to the will of their customers. Their premium clients are sharpshooters, target shooters, and any other person who wants to add the custom feature to their guns. Sometimes they work with engravers and fishers to add skill to their work, and they can do other works by themselves after gaining years of experience.
Fishers
These gunsmiths are specialized in doing chemical processes involved in designing guns. Some of the techniques that a fisher does are browning, bluing, parkerisation, a combined chemical and heat treatment, color case hardening, etc.
Stockmaker
The stockmaker is specialized in carving gun stocks of the woods from walnut, apple, birch, or maple wood. The stocks are fitted to the metal part of the gun and the customer’s body dimensions. The stocks play a vital role in helping the shooter shoot at longer distances. It demands a high level of perfection to complete this task.
Checkers
Checker uses checkering tools to create ornamental designs of diamonds on the wooden surface of the gun. They use tiny v-shaped saws. These saws groove 60-90 degrees on the wooden gunstock surface.
A Gun Engraver
The gun engravers engrave metal and use hand-engraving tools to perform their tasks. Hand-gravers or die-sinker chisels are some of the tools they use. One has to be artistic enough to perform this job. The job is not limited to making the design on paper, but to engrave the same on the metal surface of the gun and add further details.
Pistol Smith
The pistol smith specializes in handling revolvers and pistols. They know woodworking, checkering, machining, metal finishing, and metalworking, etc. A pistol smith can customize the pistol, according to the customer’s desire.
A (niche) Gun Manufacturer
The gun manufacturers work as small operation manufacturers and use their skills and experiences to perform the same. They specialize in making some fewer and specific gun parts like barrels, triggers, receivers, and locks.
Now that you know about the opportunities this career option presents, you might want to know how to take your steps ahead to become a gunsmith. So the next topic is about becoming a gunsmith.
Conclusion
It also depends on the capabilities and aptitude of a person, whether a career will be a good choice for him/her or not. So evaluate yourself properly-being unbiased and go for gunsmithing if you feel it will be right for you. Remember, every profession has its pros and cons, and one who can deal with the challenges will be successful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1 Are gunsmiths happy with their job?
It depends on the subject. One can be happy in one’s career if they are interested in doing that job.
Q.2: Do I need a license if I do engraving?
Yes, for any work related to gunsmithing a license is necessary.
Q.3 What is the salary of a gunsmith?
A gunsmith earns $31,910 per year in us. The salary may increase or decrease depending on the workplace, experience, and skills.
