Any gunsmiths on here?

Just curious as to whether any of ya'll are gunsmiths. Reason I ask is I'm thinking about getting into it myself and had a few questions. First is how big of a PITA is it to get the proper FFL to do it legitimately? I say that because I know that any gun left more than 24 hours has to be transferred to you, and the back to the owner. Basically someone can hand me a gun and wait on it and I can work all day long with no problem, but for those other, bigger jobs, to do it legally, a FFL is required.

Right now I'm not looking to do it full time or anything, but given that I enjoy guns of all types, am a pretty good machinist, and basically a perfectionist I think it would be a good supplimental income for me on rainy days, and during the winter months, when the construction equipment side repair side of things is slow. Too, as I get older I know I'm not going to be able to do the heavy work I am doing now, at least not as well or as fast. Given my fascination with all things mechanical, especially guns, I think I would really enjoy doing gunsmith work full time when I get to that point in my life, heck maybe even earlier if I see I can make any money at it. I figure if I got a jump on it now, I'd have my name out there, and at least a decent customer base built up by then (at least 20 years) to make decent money doing it full time.

Second question is this. Given my fascination with mechanical things, and the enjoyment I get thinking about, and designing new things, what type of FFL would I need to get to be able to actually produce a gun if I got a wild hair and wanted to? In reality I'd love to be set up like the guys on that Son's of Gun's show (without all the fake BS and drama) where I can work on pretty much anything I please as I know that would be a really interesting way to earn a living.

Last, for those that are gunsmiths, where did you learn the craft? Did you go to school to learn it, learn by watching others and/or reading books and are, basically, self taught, or what?

Yes, I know I can call the ATF and probably get a lot of these answers about the specific FFL requirements, and I will before too long. For now though it's just something I'm batting around in my head as a possibility so I just wanted to ask around to some folks that are actually doing it and see what they have to say. Basically real human thoughts on things like, is there enough money in it to put up with all the BS, and exactly how much BSs there is to be able to do it legally?

Any thoughts, ideas, or advice, be it from gunsmiths, or those that use them, is greatly appreciated.

(quoted from post at 15:46:23 05/19/14) am a pretty good machinist, and basically a perfectionist I think

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You have the hard part done already. Most "gunsmiths" are just parts changers.

You will need a business license from your locality, and an 07 FFL(manufacturer). "Regular" business hours are also a requirement last I checked.

Once established, you can upgrade, pay your SOT, and build the fun stuff.

Record keeping is critical. Dotting all your "i's" and crossing all your "t's".

I have looked into it several times over the years, for the same reasons as you. A neighborhood class 3 dealer wanted me to do his smithing as he had seen the work I did for myself. The intrusion of the BATFE, and the fear of a book keeping error kept me from it.

Don't forget as your body goes to pot so will your eyes. That will make it hard to see all those small details.

I don't think you could pay me enough to get involved with the federal government and all the paperwork and fees that will come down on you.

besides all the talk about dealing with the government you have to deal with customers. When my dad was smithing and part of the reason he quit was the customers. Most were pretty good but there always the ones who wanted a scope mounted or their favorite gun fixed the day before season opener. Add in that your hobby now becomes work.


Check out some of the gun forums. There are so many guys out there going trough smithing school that most schools have a 2 year waiting list. Almost every student wants to build custom guns. And there is a heck of a lot of competition out there already. So I'd say don't kill the dream but check into it and figure out if that's really what you want.

Rick

I've been making my living as a Gunsmith since 1985.
You do have to follow the ATF rules to the letter and contact them if in doubt. You will be finger printed and will need to provide details as to where you are doing gunsmithing and what you have for security. The ATF can show up anytime during your business hours unannounced. I would go to a Gunsmithing school for training so you know the differance between what is safe and what isn't. Your machining back ground will be very helpful.

I sold guns for over twenty years and did some of the simpler repair work. Be very, very careful about doing anything to do with trigger assemblies and such unless you do have a formal degree from an acredited school and made darn sure your liability insurance is adaqaute!
And as already said, your record keeping has to be perfect. The ATF has the power to ruin your life if they take a disliking to you.

Back in the 8o's, I got the FFL info book as I did a little gunsmith work. I enjoyed making parts that were no longer available. Read the book and found out at that time they could knock down my door whenever they wanted to. Was not worth it.
Richard in NW SC

The farther away from my firearm activities the government is, the better I like it.

The liability factor of gunsmithing would be enough to turn you off, anymore.

I grew up gunsmithing with my Dad. We were self taught. The problem is that you ahve to deal with people. It'd be great if you could do just "the fun stuff" as you put it, but you can't just do that. What you're going to be doing is putting together other people messes, searching for non-existent parts and making a $40.00 part for a 10.00 gun, all while hearing about how you're charging too much and taking too long. I enjoy working on guns, I hate working for people. Whatever happens to the gun after you've worked on it the first time is your fault, doesn't matter if Joe Sixpack drops it out of a tree and down a cliff into salt water and leaves it in his pickup for 6 months, it's your fault. And the last minutes, "gotta have it" repairs will drive you nuts- guys that had a trip to an expensive lodge someplace planned out a year in advance will suddenly remember they never got the mag fixed or that the stock is cracked the night before they're scheduled to leave. Or some guy with a race gun will decide he needs new sights at 4:30PM the night before the regional competition...on your anniversary or kids birthday where you're all due to go out for supper or something. Plus, all those guys want it done for what amounts to free!

Dealing with the Feds is bad enough, dealing with people simply stinks.

like has been said, records, records and more records,...don't know where you got the idea that the weapon had to be transferred to you if you had it over 24 hours,...never heard that one,.. and you probably couldn't get enough insurance to keep you out of the fire anymore

Bret,

Oh, the stories I could tell..................

Any firearm you work on has too be recorded in your firearms acqusition record book and has to recorded out when the customer picks it up. Once that gun is recorded in that book it has been transfered to you from a legal standpoint. Any firearm that gets picked up by someone other than the person who brought it has to go through a NICS check before you can give them the firearm.

I forgot to add that you have 24 hrs to record it. If the ATF finds you in pocession of a firearm that has not been recorded within the 24 hr., there can can be fines or worse involved.