Gunsmith

Gunsmiths modify and repair metal fabricated firearms for special costumer specifications. They use machines and hand tools such as planers, grinders and millers to alter and restore guns, and they may also apply engravings, carvings and other decorative finishing touches to the otherwise finished product.

The duties o a gunsmith include, but are not limited to:

• Maintaining accurate records of the nature of the work done on customers’ guns as well as customers’ gun details, such as gun serial number, gun type, caliber, and gauge.
• Inspecting customers’ guns to identify any mechanical problems.
• Designing and constructing guns according to customers’ specifications.
• Modifying or adapting factory-made guns to customers’ specifications.
• Repairing damaged gun components and fixing gun malfunctions.
• Replacing the barrels on existing rifles to change the caliber, correct accuracy problems, alter the overall rifle weight, or provide a customized look.
• Bluing gun barrels and various gun components to prevent rusting.
• Restoring old, dilapidated, or antique guns.
• Attaching optical sights, pistol grips, or recoil pads to various guns.

Gunsmiths work indoors in workshops equipped with grinders, drill presses, lathes, saws, drills, and various metalworking tools. Generally gunsmiths do not work under great pressure, although before and during the hunting season it can get busy. Test firing may be rather noisy, but routine safety procedures have removed most of the risks. Retail gun stores employ gunsmiths who spend time talking to customers as well as repairing guns.

The following job titles also refer to gunsmith:

gun-smith
rifle engraver
firearm constructor
metal worker
custom rifle designer
custom gun designer
gun maker
shotgun builder
firearm builder
pistol-smith
pistol smith
gun engraver
custom gun builder

High school students interested in becoming gunsmiths should take woodworking, metalwork, and technical drawing courses at school. Some trade and technical schools offer gunsmithing. Some of these schools grant a diploma, and others have a two-year degree program. Courses include algebra, drafting, technical report writing, metallurgy, ballistics, and machine tool processes. Considerable time is spent doing practical shop work, which covers parts design, barrel fitting, soldering, welding, and custom stock making.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Gunsmith is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to gunsmith.

bicycle mechanic
consumer electronics repair technician
household appliances repair technician
computer hardware repair technician
shoe repairer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of gunsmith. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of gunsmith with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

life coach
body artist
wedding planner
beauty salon manager
ammunition shop manager

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of gunsmith.

• Precision engineering: Engineering discipline related to the fields of electrical engineering, electronics engineering, software engineering, optical engineering, and mechanical engineering that deals with the development of apparatus with very low tolerances.
• Precision mechanics: Precision or fine mechanics is a subdiscipline in engineering that focuses on the design and development of smaller precision machines.

These skills are necessary for the role of gunsmith.

• Repair firearms: Identify problems or deviations on firearms, check for deterioration, disassemble parts, regulate, adjust, and replace deficient components.
• Apply company policies: Apply the principles and rules that govern the activities and processes of an organisation.
• Use firearms: Shoot one or several types of firearm being aware of safe handling techniques, aim of the firearm and the fire.
• Maintain records of maintenance interventions: Keep written records of all repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, including information on the parts and materials used, etc.
• Apply bluing techniques: Use techniques to protect metals against rust, for instance with the use of salt baths.
• Instruct customers on ammunition’s usage: Explain the features of weapons, how to load and maintain them, and how to ensure maximum safety.
• Read assembly drawings: Read and interpret drawings listing all the parts and subassemblies of a certain product. The drawing identifies the different components and materials and provides instructions on how to assemble a product.
• Accurise guns: Improve the accuracy of guns, by improving usability, tolerances, harmonics and projectile propulsion consistency and using techniques such as bedding, pressure bedding or free-floating.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Customise guns: Make modifications or attach custom-made components on guns based on the wishes of a particular customer.
• Create smooth wood surface: Shave, plane and sand wood manually or automatically to produce a smooth surface.
• Maintain customer service: Keep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requirements.
• Replace defect components: Remove defective parts and replace them with functioning components.
• Provide customer information related to repairs: Inform customers about necessary repairs or replacements, discuss products, services and costs, include accurate technical information.
• Restore old guns: Bring back old or dilapidated guns to their original condition by repairing or replacing defect components, cleaning and oiling parts and conserving them in that state.
• Apply technical communication skills: Explain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.
• Assemble guns: Replace or attach firearm components such as optical sights, pistol grips, recoil pads and choking devices.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of gunsmith. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Optical engineering: Subdiscipline of engineering that deals with the development of optical instruments and applications, such as telescopes, microscopes, lenses, lasers, fibre optic communication, and imaging systems.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of gunsmith. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
• Manage schedule of tasks: Maintain an overview of all the incoming tasks in order to prioritise the tasks, plan their execution, and integrate new tasks as they present themselves.
• Engrave patterns: Engrave and print designs and patterns onto a variety of surfaces.
• Manage a small-to-medium business: Manage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.
• Maintain relationship with suppliers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.
• Assist customers: Provide support and advice to customers in making purchasing decisions by finding out their needs, selecting suitable service and products for them and politely answering questions about products and services.
• Use repair manuals: Apply the information, such as periodic maintenance charts, step by step repair instructions, troubleshooting information and overhaul procedures to perform routine maintenance and repairs.
• Ensure compliance with warranty contracts: Implement and monitor repairs and/or replacements by the supplier in compliance with warranty contracts.
• Maintain catalogue collection: Describe, inventorise and catalogue items in the collection.
• Sell weapons: Sell small arms such as revolvers, shotguns, light machine guns for general use to customers, according to national legislation and safety requirements.
• Maintain professional administration: File and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.
• Administer appointments: Accept, schedule and cancel appointments.
• Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
• Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
• Heat metals: Heat steel and metals in fire; adjust and regulate heat controls to reach appropriate pouring temperature.
• Sell ammunition: Sell ammunition for general use to customers, according to national legislation and safety requirements.
• Tend metal polishing machine: Tend a metalworking machine designed to buff and polish metal surfaces, monitor and operate it according to regulations.
• Issue sales invoices: Prepare the invoice of goods sold or services provided, containing individual prices, the total charge, and the terms. Complete order processing for orders received via telephone, fax and internet and calculate the customer’s final bill.
• Keep stock records: Keep written records of the amount of stock in storage, incoming and outgoing products required for the proper operation of services, repairs and maintenance tasks.

7222 – Toolmakers and related workers

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References

1. Gunsmith – ESCO
2. Gunsmith Job Description – Betterteam
3. Gunsmith Job Description – StateUniversity.com
4. Featured image: By Shoop73 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0