In the 1980s I was heavily into Japanese motorcycles. The engines are well designed and well built. I thought as I thought about entering retirement, I might start motorcycle repair, tire changes, oil and filter replacement, etc. Working on my own machines I realized I liked fixing my own stuff, but working on other people’s was a drag. You bring up the same points here. And gunsmithing is a much more precise craft than fixing motorbikes. Well done👍.
I love this. This was down to earth. This wasn't a. You're not a gunsmith talk that you hear so many times you don't do this. You're not a gunsmith if you do this, you're not a gunsmith this is a down to earth talk and kind of in a way acknowledging the change in the industry. And it's a change in the industry for a lot of reasons. It's not just that there's changes in the laws or or things like that. It's also changes in the in the in the type of firearms that are being manufactured. You're not seeing a lot of manufacturer of the older firearms. You're now getting the AR-15s and they they, the AKs and the the polymer guns. And this is where people are making the shift and people can make an entire business around one type of firearm and even one model one brand and they can be successful the $100,000. I haven't known a single gunsmith that made $100,000 a year that didn't do some sort of customization that cost a lot of money that people wanted to do, but those people are just not that the torch isn't being passed. You don't have a princesses. You don't have people seeking out to learn this. You have the indoctrination or the maybe a better word is the the idea that you have to go to a school to learn something instead of the apprenticeship. And I love how you guys touched on the fact that the school doesn't teach you everything. It teaches you certain things and then you have to go learn everything else and the everything else is what you need to know. The school turned to teach you how to turn a screwdriver. Maybe turn on a switch set up a machine. The apprenticeship teaches you why you're turning that screw they teach you how things fit together and and why they fit together and why things do certain things and why you don't just replace a pen. Sometimes you have to remount the hole and make it a next size bigger to make it fit properly. These things are not taught in a school. That's what you learned through the apprenticeship that we just don't have anymore. Great information, thank you
Edwin, I agree with your post 100 percent. And thanks for your very kind words. I hope you chase your dream if you want to learn more about being a gunsmith. Some of the best time I spend is at the bench figuring out things! Roy
@@fmgpubs yes I love figuring out how things work and why they work and when they don't work why they don't work and not just in Firearms it's in anything I'll take something apart just to see how it works and why it works the way it does work
You’re exactly right Chris. For some reason, many people think there’s just some magic juice you drink or something and suddenly you know all that stuff. Roy
I have to agree with Roy that most schools don't teach general gunsmithing. I went to Lassen College in the early 1990s, and I learned general gunsmithing. That instructor retired so I haven't any idea how good they are or aren't now. A friend of mine went to Trinidad College around the same time and also learned general gunsmithing. Overall, maybe 10% of the graduates were gunsmithing 5 years later. They taught me how to fix the guns and figure out ones I didn't know. They taught how to run a gunsmithing business. In the gunsmithing school they did not teach us how to run a business. That could be gotten in other sections of the school. Yes, these examples are almost 30 years old now, so your mileage may vary.
Hi there new to the channel and been looking for the real knowledge from a grandfather who has been in the industry before there was schools like today!! I was 7 and tore apart my mothers answering machine cut the wires and all and upset my mom so I put it all back together and it worked and surprised her and loved it since. I would take broken stereos,cassette/CD players,TV fix them and give them away many times before I was 10. I took my first transmission off a ford at 8. I was a mechanic at 10 lol and worked at a shop at 16 and then the last 8 years I was a facility engineer. I just became paralyzed from my waste down and can not stand but can lift a lot with my arms and have always been good with my hands and have grown a passion for guns and history. I would rather learn from smiths like you men but live in the middle of Nebraska so my question is what school would you proffer to send your best candidate to learn the history to metals,lathes and ammo? I have not done much with guns but a lot with my hands and I am vary passionate about my work and quality as well do know business as I had to write all the SOP for all machinery,tools,facility layout as the company became a franchises and multi million dollar company over night and set up shop in 10 states and 3 countries. I ask you gentlemen because you will have the knowledge as to what school would be worth the time and money thank you for your time and education it has helped me a lot on my decision.
Well ... the thing is about gunsmithing schools is the top ones are about the same. But also as I'm sure you know, real-world training is a better use of your time. If you have the time to go to a two year school, I'd rather simply get a job at a shop and learn in the real world. I've found most of the students who go to gunsmithing colleges graduate then don't go into the industry. Let me know if you have more questions. Roy
@@fmgpubs Thank you for your input and yes all about the real world work vs college. I live in the middle of nowhere so there is no shops. I plan to do the gunsmith in my garage or build a small shop in my backyard. I do plan to do the 2 years as it covers history and all I think I will follow gunsmiths like you gentlemen and learn as time goes on and bounce ideas or questions. Thank you for your time and again knowledge.
@@magacountrydad309 TH-cam is full of ideas, just pay attention so you can tell the wrong ones from the right ones. Troll the machinist websites too. Theirs almost always gunsmith related stuff going on. Roy
I’m really enjoying the Garage Band rock music in the background lol Great Video! I’ve been pondering the idea of pursuing gunsmithing, I’m about to graduate high school and still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life lol
I'm wondering about the part that this episode didn't mention, so I'm thinking that being a gunsmith for a young man in this time is pretty challenge so instead of working as a repair man and have a store if with determination, the young should also think of the work for the big brands or the companies (the way of doing the business, RD, the company management system and so on) and that is the totally different approach than the learning in the gunsmith program for 16 months or 2 years, or the positions of these big brands are actually full of the hands already? （Then if you know what you are doing and have the skills, thinking that you can do better than them, then, just build your own gun or the weapon for sale to compete in the market... at least for the right of freedom?）
Good thoughts. Certainly, becoming involved in the industry is a sound idea, but without engineering degrees and experience, most big manufacturers would only hire someone to work on the factory floor, assembling and doing such things (labor). If you have a passion for guns then learning how to repair, build and customize them allows you the freedom to choose your own work and your own path. Keep at it! Roy
As long as you don't plan on taking any "tips" from Mark novak rhe "gunsmith" I'd say you are on the right track and damn right you should become a gunsmith!
In the 1980s I was heavily into Japanese motorcycles. The engines are well designed and well built. I thought as I thought about entering retirement, I might start motorcycle repair, tire changes, oil and filter replacement, etc. Working on my own machines I realized I liked fixing my own stuff, but working on other people’s was a drag. You bring up the same points here. And gunsmithing is a much more precise craft than fixing motorbikes. Well done👍.
A perfect analogy. I’ve seen similar things in the old car hobby. Suddenly what was fun is work! Roy
I love this. This was down to earth. This wasn't a. You're not a gunsmith talk that you hear so many times you don't do this. You're not a gunsmith if you do this, you're not a gunsmith this is a down to earth talk and kind of in a way acknowledging the change in the industry. And it's a change in the industry for a lot of reasons. It's not just that there's changes in the laws or or things like that. It's also changes in the in the in the type of firearms that are being manufactured. You're not seeing a lot of manufacturer of the older firearms. You're now getting the AR-15s and they they, the AKs and the the polymer guns. And this is where people are making the shift and people can make an entire business around one type of firearm and even one model one brand and they can be successful the $100,000. I haven't known a single gunsmith that made $100,000 a year that didn't do some sort of customization that cost a lot of money that people wanted to do, but those people are just not that the torch isn't being passed. You don't have a princesses. You don't have people seeking out to learn this. You have the indoctrination or the maybe a better word is the the idea that you have to go to a school to learn something instead of the apprenticeship. And I love how you guys touched on the fact that the school doesn't teach you everything. It teaches you certain things and then you have to go learn everything else and the everything else is what you need to know. The school turned to teach you how to turn a screwdriver. Maybe turn on a switch set up a machine. The apprenticeship teaches you why you're turning that screw they teach you how things fit together and and why they fit together and why things do certain things and why you don't just replace a pen. Sometimes you have to remount the hole and make it a next size bigger to make it fit properly. These things are not taught in a school. That's what you learned through the apprenticeship that we just don't have anymore. Great information, thank you
Edwin, I agree with your post 100 percent. And thanks for your very kind words. I hope you chase your dream if you want to learn more about being a gunsmith. Some of the best time I spend is at the bench figuring out things! Roy
@@fmgpubs yes I love figuring out how things work and why they work and when they don't work why they don't work and not just in Firearms it's in anything I'll take something apart just to see how it works and why it works the way it does work
Great advice. Most of it applies to any industry.
You’re exactly right Chris. For some reason, many people think there’s just some magic juice you drink or something and suddenly you know all that stuff. Roy
Remember- it takes 20 years to become an overnight success!- BW
I have to agree with Roy that most schools don't teach general gunsmithing. I went to Lassen College in the early 1990s, and I learned general gunsmithing. That instructor retired so I haven't any idea how good they are or aren't now.
A friend of mine went to Trinidad College around the same time and also learned general gunsmithing.
Overall, maybe 10% of the graduates were gunsmithing 5 years later. They taught me how to fix the guns and figure out ones I didn't know. They taught how to run a gunsmithing business. In the gunsmithing school they did not teach us how to run a business. That could be gotten in other sections of the school.
Yes, these examples are almost 30 years old now, so your mileage may vary.
Hi there new to the channel and been looking for the real knowledge from a grandfather who has been in the industry before there was schools like today!! I was 7 and tore apart my mothers answering machine cut the wires and all and upset my mom so I put it all back together and it worked and surprised her and loved it since. I would take broken stereos,cassette/CD players,TV fix them and give them away many times before I was 10. I took my first transmission off a ford at 8. I was a mechanic at 10 lol and worked at a shop at 16 and then the last 8 years I was a facility engineer. I just became paralyzed from my waste down and can not stand but can lift a lot with my arms and have always been good with my hands and have grown a passion for guns and history. I would rather learn from smiths like you men but live in the middle of Nebraska so my question is what school would you proffer to send your best candidate to learn the history to metals,lathes and ammo? I have not done much with guns but a lot with my hands and I am vary passionate about my work and quality as well do know business as I had to write all the SOP for all machinery,tools,facility layout as the company became a franchises and multi million dollar company over night and set up shop in 10 states and 3 countries. I ask you gentlemen because you will have the knowledge as to what school would be worth the time and money thank you for your time and education it has helped me a lot on my decision.
Well ... the thing is about gunsmithing schools is the top ones are about the same. But also as I'm sure you know, real-world training is a better use of your time. If you have the time to go to a two year school, I'd rather simply get a job at a shop and learn in the real world. I've found most of the students who go to gunsmithing colleges graduate then don't go into the industry. Let me know if you have more questions. Roy
@@fmgpubs Thank you for your input and yes all about the real world work vs college. I live in the middle of nowhere so there is no shops. I plan to do the gunsmith in my garage or build a small shop in my backyard. I do plan to do the 2 years as it covers history and all I think I will follow gunsmiths like you gentlemen and learn as time goes on and bounce ideas or questions. Thank you for your time and again knowledge.
@@magacountrydad309 TH-cam is full of ideas, just pay attention so you can tell the wrong ones from the right ones. Troll the machinist websites too. Theirs almost always gunsmith related stuff going on. Roy
I’m really enjoying the Garage Band rock music in the background lol Great Video! I’ve been pondering the idea of pursuing gunsmithing, I’m about to graduate high school and still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life lol
Doesn’t hurt to learn a skill and gunsmithing teaches you all sorts of tool skills you can use doing other work. Just dive in and get going! Roy
I'm wondering about the part that this episode didn't mention, so I'm thinking that being a gunsmith for a young man in this time is pretty challenge so instead of working as a repair man and have a store if with determination, the young should also think of the work for the big brands or the companies (the way of doing the business, RD, the company management system and so on) and that is the totally different approach than the learning in the gunsmith program for 16 months or 2 years, or the positions of these big brands are actually full of the hands already? （Then if you know what you are doing and have the skills, thinking that you can do better than them, then, just build your own gun or the weapon for sale to compete in the market... at least for the right of freedom?）
Good thoughts. Certainly, becoming involved in the industry is a sound idea, but without engineering degrees and experience, most big manufacturers would only hire someone to work on the factory floor, assembling and doing such things (labor). If you have a passion for guns then learning how to repair, build and customize them allows you the freedom to choose your own work and your own path. Keep at it! Roy
As long as you don't plan on taking any "tips" from Mark novak rhe "gunsmith" I'd say you are on the right track and damn right you should become a gunsmith!
Have Dremel, Will Travel.
Ha! Anyone with a dremel is a gunsmith’s dream client! I’ve repaired dremel work many times … Roy
Ｗｈａｔ Ｉ ｎｅｅｄ
Glad to help. Ask questions if you have any. Roy