A firearms expert is an expert in metal and wood processing who is trained to assemble and repair firearms. Some people pursue this profession to earn an income within their means, while for others, assembling firearms is just a hobby. This article contains information about firearms assembly skills, educational requirements to become a firearms expert, and the application of firearms assembly knowledge.
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Method 1 of 3: Preparing to Become a Firearms Expert
Step 1. Have the ability to learn technical skills
Firearms must be designed and assembled according to specifications to be suitable and safe to use. A firearms expert must be adept at working with wood, metal, and other materials to make each part of a firearm.
- Mathematical skills must be possessed by a firearms expert because later he will have to measure and cut wood and metal.
- A firearms expert must be skilled in working wood and metal. A firearms expert must know how to use workshop equipment, such as lathes, drilling machines, precision measuring tools, chisels, and other related tools.
- A firearms expert must have mechanical skills. Firearms experts understand very well how firearms work as a whole and each part of it. When a firearm doesn't work properly, a firearms expert is able to deal with the problem.
Step 2. Get interested in the history and production of firearms
Firearms experts understand that the science of gun assembly has evolved over several hundred years. Firearms experts know very well the old and new models of firearms, their manufacturers, as well as their accessories.
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A firearms expert is usually a collector or a firearms enthusiast who wants to try to assemble a gun with their own hands.
Become a Gunsmith Step 2 - Most firearms specialists are members of organizations, such as the National Rifle Association (in the United States). Occasionally, firearms specialists attend a meeting, exhibition, or other event to get together with other firearms experts and dig up more information about firearms.
Step 3. Be aware of firearm safety
Certified firearms experts know very well the importance of handling firearms according to the rules of safety standards and laws in their respective areas.
Firearm safety also applies to the assembly process, because defective firearms may not be safe for the user
Method 2 of 3: Education and Training
Step 1. Start early
Take industrial arts lessons at the high school level, such as engineering, engineering drawing, and woodworking. These lessons will form the basic skills required of a firearms expert. If you don't have time to study industrial arts at the high school level, then take an engineering major at college to improve your skills.
Step 2. Apply for a firearm assembly program at a college or vocational school
Most of these programs take between six months and two years. A list of accredited schools can be found on the NRA website.
- The firearms assembly program teaches mechanical skills and the use of various tools, the different functions and designs of different types of firearms, how to analyze and repair firearms, and safety procedures. In some cases, these programs will also teach the arts of chemistry and ballistics.
- Consider signing up for an online gun assembly program, which is an alternative that has become popular in recent years.
- The firearms assembly program always conducts background checks on prospective students. Anyone who does not pass the examination is not allowed to join the program.
Step 3. Find an internship
As an alternative or additional experience to a certification or diploma in firearm assembly, seek internships as a firearms specialist or apply to The Association of Gunsmiths and Related Trades (TAOGART) for apprenticeship status.
- You must be at least 16 years of age to apply to TAOGART. All applicants must be legal in possession of a firearm in accordance with state laws.
- If you are still in high school, you must graduate with a grade point average of at least a C. You must have permission from a legal guardian and school official, such as a principal or counselor.
- The apprenticeship program in firearm assembly consists of on-site training and in-class instruction for a total of 8,000 hours. This will vary depending on the type of internship program you are running.
Step 4. Get a Federal Firearms License (FFL)
This license is different from other firearms licenses. This license allows you to keep someone else's firearm for more than one day. You will experience this if you are repairing someone else's firearm.
- To get an FFL, you must be over 21 years of age, subject to strict firearm safety requirements. An agent will be sent to inspect your firearm assembly facility and conduct an interview before the license is granted.
- Apply to obtain an FFL with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Find more information on other requirements in your area.
Method 3 of 3: Making a Career as a Firearms Expert
Step 1. Consider specializing in a particular area of firearm assembly
Several firearms experts have had success focusing on one of the following areas:
- Design and assembly of firearms according to special requests.
- The manufacture of rifle rods, involves the manufacture of rifle rods from wood.
- Making carvings on firearms, adding to the aesthetic value of firearms with decorative or patterned carvings on wood or metal.
- Gun assembly is done by a person who only designs and assembles the gun according to specific requests. Other firearms experts focus on different types of rifles.
Step 2. Consider working for a company
Running a business independently can be difficult and full of risks. So, some firearms experts prefer to work for someone else. Most firearms specialists are employed in sports and firearms stores, firearm manufacturers, and armory.
Step 3. Register yourself as a member of the firearms expert guild
In the guild of firearms experts, you will get recognition and support. The association also provides scholarships for students who wish to work as firearms specialists.
