Gunsmithing apprenticeships?

[tomgriffin]

I haven't been into airguns for very long but since purchasing my gun and equiptment i have loved every minute of it , but the best thing i like about owning an air rifle is being able to take it apart and figure out how everything works and how it can be improved

Since my last post on my "engineering" thread i have been researching the art of gunsmithing ......but i couldn't find anything about hands on learning or how to go about asking/applying for a hands on apprenticeship in gunsmithing

Does anyone know what colleges or uni's are offering courses/apprenticeships for this trade?...... As i haven't had any luck with finding any courses in the UK

I really want to find out more information on this trade and will be looking around the area for gunsmiths and asking them if they offer apprenticeships or just learning on the job training without having to go to college.....

If you do have any advice (good or bad) then please tell me and could any gunsmiths tell me if this is a "dying trade" (not worth getting into) or if it would be a stable job?

thanks you.....tom griffin

[bullbarrel]

This thread has been running recently.
http://www.airgunbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177430

[MattLin]

I've looked high and low and found very, very little.

I reckon your best bet is to train in metal work/machining, as in knowing how to use a lathe properly ect.. and go from there, as I'd imagine rifle makers would prefer someone competent in machining before having to teach them to actually make rifles and parts.

Personally, and hopefully, after I've finished this year of college im going to do an apprenticeship as an Instrumental Technician (Already got a sponsor company )and at the same time take machining courses or similar, then just see what happens, at least that way I have a decent trade to fall back on/support myself.

[Sam Vimes]

As stated in the linked thread. Joining the military as an Armourer maybe one of the few ways forward.

[pothunter]

I think that most training is in-house and, due to the demise of the British gun trade, opportunities are few and far between.
Perhaps an option is to rattle up a stunning CV and send it to the few remaining british gunmakers.
Also think about the different trades in traditional gunsmithing, although many are now "jacks of all trades" the specialist powder burner makers still have individual barrel makers, actioners, engravers, stockers, finishers etc.

I wish you the very best of luck and hope that your search is successful.

ATB

Richard

[MattLin]

As stated in the linked thread. Joining the military as an Armourer maybe one of the few ways forward.

But also mentioned in that thread - Armourers just aren't taught to the standard a civilian gunsmith is..

[pothunter]

I agree, an apprentice gunsmith starts by making the tea, sweeping up, watching the master in action, getting the bacon butties, and eventually learns all aspects of the trade from making the pins that hold the locks, through sears, hammers, springs, tumblers and firing pins, lockplates, triggers, barrels, jointing, blueing and heat treating, stocking, fitting, patterning and final finishing.

I really hope the you get to where you want to be, the country needs engineers, far more than it needs social scientists or psychologists!!

[tomgriffin]

I thought i might aswell use the thread i started a while ago rather than starting a new one ....

I really need/want a job where i can work with my hands and using machines like lathes and mills.....And im pretty sure that a local gunsmith doesn't want to train a new comer about it

So i wondered what other jobs are there that use lathes, milling machines and hand tools for forming metal (always liked it a school ) as i really do want to get into a trade which involves the above