Where are all the gunsmithing school

spec.4

I was wondering where is all the gunsmithing school at? I will be moving to Kansas city, Mo. in about six months and was wondering if one is there.

spec.4

nononsense

spec.4,

There are several gunsmiths on the forums that can answer questions that you may have if you ask. There have been a few threads on the topic over the last couple years and the following is a synopsis of some of my answers and the list of Gunsmithing Schools.


I didn't make He Dog's list but I am qualified to answer from several levels. Another member, redice either just graduated or is getting ready to as is Bill Costik.

The top 2 schools according to businesses and companies that employ gunsmithing school graduates are:

Yavapai College(1) and Trinidad State Jr. College(2)

These are a couple of responses that I've written in the past. I've included the links so you can read the whole thread if you'd like. You can also search all of the forums by using the 'search' feature in the upper right corner of the screen. Type in 'gunsmithing schools'.


First off, there are no correspondence schools that can teach you gunsmithing. You can get information from books but gunsmithing involves your eyes, hands, brains and some machinery. They can't teach you how to run a machine or use a file or make a spring out of a book. Most of gunsmithing education involves hands on work, with instructors lecturing, doing demos and then assisting you while you develop the hand/eye coordination required for a manual skill. You have to build a mental and verbal library as well as a manual skills library for your profession. It involves practice and then more practice.

This is most important in my opinion, to pick the best school, you need to gather all of the material about each school that is either near you or has a good description of its' program that peaks your interest. Narrow them down as best you can. Then plan on physically visiting each school that you have a good interest in so that you see the physical plant, meet the instructors, discuss the curriculum and then meet some of the current students and get their thoughts on the program since they have been in it. Also, get a list of graduates and poll them by phone, letters or e-mail to see how they feel that the program benefitted them in the pursuit of a career in gunsmithing. Most folks are too lazy to do all of this work but this is your career choice, not just some frolic at someone else's expense. You are the one that will have to make the sacrifices and pay the bills, so do as much advance work as you possibly can.

Ask if you need more.

This is the list that Brownells publishes in their catalog. I removed the correspondence courses but the list is selectable online:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Company/links.aspx?catid=8

Gunsmithing Schools

Colorado School of Trades (commercial business - operates to make a profit)
1575 Hoyt Street
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: 800-234-4594

Lassen Community College
P.O. Box 3000
Susanville, CA 96130
Phone: 530-257-4211

Montgomery Community College
1011 Page Street
P.O. Box 787
Troy, NC 27371
Phone: 800-839-6222

Murray State College
One Murray Campus
Tishomingo, OK 73460
Phone: 580-371-2371

Pennsylvania Gunsmith School (commercial business - operates to make a profit)
812 Ohio River Blvd.
Avalon
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
Phone: 412-766-1812

Piedmont Community College
1715 College Drive
P.O. Box 1197
Roxboro, NC 27573
Phone: 336-599-1181

Pine Technical Institute
900 4th Street
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 800-521-7463

Trinidad State Jr. College
600 Prospect
Trinidad, CO 81082
Phone: 800-621-8752

Yavapai College
1100 East Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
Phone: 1-800-922-6787 or 928-776-2348
http://www.gunsmithing.org/

NRA schools are just short courses offered at various times of the year but concentrated during the summer. Colorado School of Trades and Pennsylvania Gunsmith School are commercial entities, they are owned and operated for a profit. The other seven schools are associated with Community Colleges or Junior Colleges. Each has their own methods and curriculum. I think your best bet is to contact each of them and ask for their program packets, then spend time reading and absorbing the information. Don't hesitate to call any or all of them and discuss any questions that you might have.

Let me know if you have any questions.

http://forums.forthehunt.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=234243&SearchTerms=gunsmithing,schools

Here is the link to a discussion that just took place:

http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=103519

http://forums.forthehunt.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=103995&SearchTerms=gunsmithing,schools