The Introduction: Unit 1 with an MGS Student

Lesson 1 

This unit took me through the where and how to begin, from being a sportsman to being able to gain the knowledge used for gunsmithing. I learned the safety precautions that even avid gun enthusiasts forget or simply don’t realize as significance. Knowledge is everything but do not assume your knowledge is complete. Even after all the schooling, reading, and hands-on projects, you will still not know everything. This is important to realize early on. There may come a time when you come across a new way of doing something. Be open to new lessons and always keep your mind open to new techniques, tactics, and technology. 

Lesson 1 also started with the basic safety precautions and then on to dismantling a Colt .38 Special revolver. It explained the ins and outs of the inner parts and their functions, including some fun facts. For example, we have all seen the quick flip of the cylinder back into the weapon in a western movie, but this is not recommended since it can and will damage other parts of the firearm. Once again, be open to new lessons. 

Lesson 2 

This, in large part, is a deeper dive into safety. It discusses the biggest “rule” as a gunsmith and gunowner: All firearms are loaded until you personally check the chamber and magazine. As we move through the lesson, it points out that sometimes the correct answer is actually “I don’t know.” Don’t feel the need to guess or come up with an answer. Guessing and making a mistake that hurts someone is the worst thing a gunsmith can do. If you don’t know, you don’t know. And that’s okay. 

As we move along, the lesson covers everything from common sense as a gunsmith to the “I would have never thought of that” aspects of the craft. Not everyone realizes every single safety aspect until you learn them (and then some). Even better, this lesson helps students find out where to obtain books and DVDs for weapon construction and maintenance. 

Later, we get into the tear down of a Colt .45 ACP. I learned that most semi-automatic firearms are built from the same basic design with very few differences. This makes tearing down and rebuilding or diagnosing issues a little simpler. It also provides more exploded drawings of the firearms. These drawings are the start of your library of literature you will need to keep throughout your career as a gunsmith. 

As we progress through it, we learn what to look for as far as worn out or damaged parts go. The material explains what impact a worn or damaged part may have on other parts of the structure and performance of the firearm. 

Lesson 3 

This lesson gets a little more detailed than just tearing down. We start learning about checking bore, what tools to use, and how to gauge it. We see what to look for as far as damage or defect inside the barrel of a firearm and your options to repair. We also learn how the acid technique works for removing rust inside a barrel and, of course, the safety of preventing acid burns while using it. The lesson starts to go into repairing stocks from repairing a dent with steam to patching by cutting out the damaged piece and replacing it with a new piece cut to fit.  

The material then details how to use a solid patch of wood, or a sawdust glue mix to patch certain damages. It explains to you the differences between conventional wood glue and epoxy (and it explains how epoxy works, too). We learn how to strip the finish off a stock, remove old oils as well, and how to clean and maintain a quality finish. 

We come to the end of the unit and learn what is probably just as important as safety, and that is, the law. This program comes with an FFL or Federal Firearms License. 

I find that what I decide to do with this education will determine what laws I need to adhere to. If I am doing this for myself as a hobby, there are few laws to adhere to. If I choose to open a shop or start charging others for services as a professional gunsmith, then there are the tax and distribution laws. Local, state and federal taxes will need to be filed.  

This lesson also covers the basics of buying, selling, importing, or exporting firearms and ammunition. We all know that laws differ from state to state when it comes to guns. So, MGS informs you who to reach out to for the differences in the laws. You can reach out to the ATF, or even your state representative, to learn more. 

Overall, this unit is very informative and gets you moving with the basic concepts of gunsmithing by laying a solid foundation. I have already learned a lot of new things. All of this requires a desire to learn and continue to learn new methods and techniques. There is a lot to absorb and take in, but this is a great introduction to the world of gunsmithing. 

Written by J. Jacobs, The MGS Experience Student