Gunsmithing
Gunsmiths manufacture and repair all kinds of firearms. There are many components to a gun, and a gunsmith is knows the action, barrel, chamber, and handle all like the back of his hand. Internal chambers and the inside of the barrel are also the domain of the gunsmith. A gunsmith with the proper training can look at the blueprint of a gun and build, repair or modify it for a customer.
Training in Gunsmithing
Gunsmithing is a skilled trade and thus is usually passed down in apprenticeships. Most training for this career will take place in an on-the-job setting, working with a master gunsmith in a small shop. Factories where firearms are made may also offer training programs, but odds are these types of jobs take place on an assembly line and are not as challenging as repair and maintenance of guns. Gunsmithing involves operation of a grinder or lathe, which requires training to use safely, and a fair amount of knowledge about guns, ammunition and firepower.
Careers in Gunsmithing
Within the field of gunsmithing, builders and designers create guns from components and materials. Refinishers know how to keep a firearm looking blue or black, while stockmakers carve the handles from wood and stain them. Engravers use chisels to incise designs, initials or images into the barrel and butt of the gun. Some gunsmithing training programs also teach pistolsmithing, similar to gunsmithing but involving specialized work on semi-automatic pistols and revolvers.
