A Gunsmith’s Success Story from Apprentice to Expert

This month I will be speaking about my journey to become a gunsmith. Just like any journey, everyone’s experience is different. My journey started differently than most. I’m sure there are a few gunsmiths out there that had a father like mine. He was a self-taught full-fledged gunsmith. He was respected as one of the best in our neck of the woods.

As far back as I can remember, I was always in the gun shop. I started being underfoot when I was seven or eight years old. Dad’s shop was the coolest place to be. I can still smell the gun oils and wood stain from his shop. I also figured out at an early age that black powder burns quickly, and it can remove eyebrows and hair in a flash.

During those younger years, I learned a lot about how guns worked and how to spot problems with a firearm. I learned how to clean and fix firearms, refinish stocks, and to reblue. The most important lesson was to never let a gun leave the shop if you are not pleased with the work you did on it.  

Get Started 

I took me twenty-five years to open my own business. To be honest, becoming a gunsmith was not on my radar screen. My wife rekindled that fire within me. She purchased a starter gunsmith kit from Brownells. It included a hammer, a punch kit, and a screwdriver set. I think I owned four guns at the time, but I would take apart these guns several times.

I also looked around to see how many gunsmiths were in our area. There were only a couple of fellas out there, and they both became my mentors. They filled in the gaps from my time in my dad’s shop. I recommend befriending a gunsmith if you have one close by. My father passed before I went into business, so having the two gunsmiths to talk to and learn from was the reason why my business has grown.  

Never Stop Learning 

When I first opened my shop, I had the opportunity to purchase a retired gunsmith’s shop tools and equipment. He had everything you could imagine. I had to make a tough decision. I had to get what I knew I would use and grow more later. I needed to get the basics down before I was to venture out into the unknown. My business has grown by trying new things. I mentioned above that the work I knew was mostly general repair. I grew by not saying “no” to the work that the customer wanted done.

I chambered my first rifle using one of my gunsmith friend’s lathes. I now own a lathe and use it all the time. I had never nickel plated a firearm, but a customer wanted me to do the work, so he purchased the equipment I needed, and I nickel plated the first three or four firearms for the cost of the supplies he purchased. I now offer nickel plating and have done many firearms and other items as well.

I tackled Cerakoting with the same attitude, I read up on it, watched a couple videos, and asked questions! As my business grew, I went from using a toaster oven to using a full-length oven to bake 5 barreled actions at the same time.  

Embrace the Challenges 

Not every gun opportunity or service is met with the same enthusiasm or tenacity. I have taken in pieces that I said I could do, and I had no idea how to do it. That’s when I learned how to sub-contract out the work. I do not have the facilities, equipment, or tools to do case color hardening. I have teamed up with one of the best; Turnbull specializes in doing the work, and they have perfected it. I will let them do it. I can handle getting the piece ready, ship it out and receive it back.

All that comes with a cost. You won’t be making as much on doing the work, but it is out of your hair and done properly. I do the same with gunstocks. A lot of labor is required to refinish gun stock. I have a friend that does wood working for a living and does amazing work. He likes to do the work because it is doing something different from his normal day to day.  

Trust the Process 

As you can see a lot has gone into making my gunsmithing career, from when I was seven years old to now a 53-year-old. Learning the gunsmith trade is easier now than it was when I started learning. Back then we just had books and gained experience by working as apprentices. Today you have the internet, colleges offering two-year programs, and MGS Trade School, which you can do online. The important thing to see is that you will always be learning and evolving. This learning and evolving process is not only in your skills but also in how you run your business.  

Becoming a gunsmith is a very rewarding as well as challenging. Don’t let those tough pieces determine your future. They have made me question if I have the skills or not to be a gunsmith. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn. Build relationships so you have a team that supports you and that you can pass your knowledge to as well. 

Semper Fi! 

Written by: David Johnson, Leatherneck Gunsmithing