Gunsmithing school or apprenticeship

[Steven Adam Gray]

Been considering making a career change for some time now really interested in the gunsmithing trade especially stock making, metal fitting, bluing, case color and hardening.
Only because there is no one in my area of eastern nc that does this work or atleast that I have found and I would like to bring these skills to eastern nc for myself and the surrounding areas. My question is, is gunsmithing school or a apprenticeship with a well rounded gunsmithing better? And also is anyone looking for a apprentice?

Thanks, Steven.

[William Machauer]

I attended Trinidad State Jr College in Trinidad Co for the 3 year program. The first 2 years is basic machine shop/repair/bench metal/ stick making then the same as advanced the second year. Third year was more of do your own thing.
They also offer summer classes, I'd suggest you look into these 2 week classes to get a real feeling if you really want to enroll.

I was blessed to have a real Englishman instructor who apprenticeship at Westley Richards, became a Master smith, went to Africa for WR then emigrated here. Learned so much from him!

[B. Dudley]

I wish I could go to gunsmithing school.

[Steven Adam Gray]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

I wish I could go to gunsmithing school.

So you're self taught?

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

I wish I could go to gunsmithing school.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

Good one Brian. I laughed out loud too Mike. I have a friend who is a very good taxidermist with many awards (at the Worlds), he is "self taught" and he always jokes that if he went to school he would be worse off. The first animal he did, a quail, with the legs mounted on backwards and feet forward taught him something no school could. I believe in street learning in many instances.

[John Taddeo]

I always prefer that a self-learned Smith learn on other people's guns and preferably guns that I will not be purchasing.. Hanging a shingle out and giving it a whirl may get a little complicated.. I say this, as I myself have borne witness to some self-taught taxidermy work and must report that I was always under the impression that words like "lifelike" and "natural" were supposed to be captured and preserved to the animal prior to being SHOT. And what do you really say when you first lay eyes on your long-awaited (all beaming with pride) trophy??? LOOKS GREAT...