Picture this: a staggering 500 million firearms scattered across the United States, each one representing the passion for freedom and the right to bear arms. The astonishing part? This number is just an estimate, with countless older firearms tucked away in private collections, off the record books. In the past four years alone, the sale of firearms has reached unprecedented levels, averaging over one million units per month. The sea of firearms owned by freedom-loving Americans is vast, and the need for skilled gunsmiths has never been more apparent. Whether you’re concerned about your own fi ..read more

In the dynamic landscape of firearm ownership in the United States, the recent surge in private gun sales has surpassed a monumental 500 million, signaling a paradigm shift in the industry. This surge not only reflects changing trends in firearm acquisition but also underscores the pressing need for skilled professionals in the field of gunsmithing. October 2023 was a Turning Point for firearm sales. In October 2023, the nation witnessed the third-highest recorded gun sales, with approximately 1.33 million firearms changing hands. This surge, marking an 8.3% increase from the previous year, co ..read more

In the realm of appraising firearms, the distinction between price and value holds critical significance, especially in the context of gunsmithing education. Unveiling the true worth of a firearm goes beyond its cost; it encompasses an array of elements such as rarity, provenance, and demand in the market, mirroring the multifaceted nature of evaluating education in gunsmithing. Consider a recent auction where a 1911 pistol, once owned by the notorious Al Capone, fetched nearly $900,000. Despite not being exceptionally rare, its historical significance and association with the infamous gangste ..read more

Are you considering a career in gunsmithing? Your choice of gunsmithing education will significantly impact your future in this field. Here, we’ll delve into the top three considerations crucial for embarking on your journey into the realm of firearms and gunsmithing education. Total Value Over Price: Understanding the difference between price and total value is pivotal when entering the world of gunsmithing education. Price is the upfront cost, but total value encompasses the entirety of what you gain. This includes the quality of education, available resources, and hands-on experience. The v ..read more

Here’s why Knowledge and Skills are more valuable and safer than money in the Bank. When you invest in yourself and acquire skills and knowledge, you permanently own and control that investment. When you have money in a Bank, it can be vaporized in just a moment based on decisions made by other people and totally out of your control. We have recently seen that happen with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in California. They made some mistakes that really weren’t even obviously reckless or risky. But they still got trapped, forced into bankruptcy and liquidated.  Millions and probably Billions of ..read more

Here are just a few of the reasons that I think it is beneficial for Gunsmiths to attend the SHOT Show: First of all, if you are not familiar with the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades Show (SHOT Show), it is a firearms industry trade show that is only open to credentialed members of the firearms and outdoor (hunting and related) industry and the media who cover it. The show is sponsored by the  National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and their tagline for the Trade Show is “It’s a Big Deal”. And if you have ever attended, you would probably agree. It consists of over 500,000 square ..read more

This is Part 4 of our miniseries “The Efficient Gunsmithing Workbench” if you missed the first parts you can read them here Click Here for Part 1 and here for Part 2 and here for Part 3. So now that you have your bench set up properly and you have gathered the hand tools that you need, after the Foredom Tool, the next power tool that you will use the most is a Belt Sander. Using a belt sander is a quick and easy way to shape and fit parts, but only after you learn D, F, & R so that you know exactly how much material you can take off to achieve the proper fit and function. Wh ..read more

This is Part 3 of our miniseries “The Efficient Gunsmithing Workbench” if you missed the first parts you can read them here Click Here for Part 1 and Here for Part 2. As I am Gunsmithing day to day, I mostly use hand tools to disassemble, reassemble, and adjust the various firearms that I am working on. But all day long I turn to one power tool to cut, grind, drill, and polish parts as I fit, modify or make them from scratch. That tool is a Foredom tool and I really can’t imagine working without it. My Foredom tool hangs beside my bench within easy reach as I work, and I frequen ..read more

Welcome to part two of “The Efficient Gunsmithing Workbench”, if you haven’t read it yet I highly recommend starting with Part 1 where I talk about setting up the bench itself. When I am working at the bench, to be efficient I need to have the correct tools handy and not be wasting a lot of time looking for what I need. I put my Gunsmithing tools into three broad categories; Tools I use constantly, tools that I use somewhat frequently, and tools I that I seldom use or only occasionally. Under the “hand tools that I use constantly” category, because firearms are primarily held together wit ..read more

I have worked on firearms on dining room tables, the floor, truck tailgates, shooting benches, countertops, and just about anywhere else you can think of over the last 40+ years of Gunsmithing. But if you want to do it efficiently you need a good workbench and I want to share how to set yours up to be practical, comfortable, and efficient. As you are doing Gunsmithing work you are moving the firearm around and reaching for tools, etc. The less you have to travel around a room to get what you need, the faster you can get your work done. First of all, a large percentage of your work will be done ..read more