Gunsmiths?????

W

William Suter

Well-known member
A few weeks ago I was at the club shooting when a guy and friends showed up. One went down to hang targets and I started talking to the other guy. He had some nice rifles, all AR's and said he built them at his store. I ask if he was a gunsmith and he said he was. I get asked numerous times about if I know any gunsmiths in the area so when he said he was a smith I asked for a business card. Turns out he works by appointment only and out of his house. I ask if he did barrel work and chambering. Well, turns out his smithing work is on AR's and about all he does is assemble them with the parts he buys. That is really not what I call a gunsmith. He did have nice looking business cards though!!
 
Years ago I met this older fella who liked to tinker with rifles. He would buy one and "accurize" it then turn around and sale it for a profit. He made good money doing that kinda stuff.
 
There are many out there that call themselves "Gunsmiths" but only a select few that really are. Kinda like "custom rifles". You put it in a Boyd's stock and now its custom. Not really, its just a factory gun in a new stock.
 
A true gunsmith is a Machinist with extensive knowledge of firearms.
I’m very very fortunate to be friends with a very good one. He did an apprenticeship, with in my opinion, one of the best smiths in the Northeast.

An AR assembler is just that, an assembler of pre manufactured parts. While that does take some knowledge, it can be easily learned from watching YouTube videos.
 
Absolutely agree with most of the sentiments here. Real gunsmiths are getting rare, especially the ones who can run a lathe, chamber a barrel, or true up an action. There’s a big difference between assembling ARs and actually machining parts or doing custom fitting. Nothing wrong with putting together rifles—everyone starts somewhere—but calling that “gunsmithing” kind of muddies the water.

A proper smith is part machinist, part artist, and part problem solver. Those guys are few and far between now, and the ones left are either booked out months or about ready to hang it up.
 
One of the best gunsmiths we had in Okla was Bob Jourdan and he has passed. Another was Paul Day and he has also passed. Both were excellent gunsmiths. One of my friends is also a true gunsmith. If a firearm needs a part and its not available any longer, he makes the part. He always jokes saying he can do a trigger job on a Daisy air rifle. He's in his early 80's and not going to be doing smith work much longer but sure hope it isn't anytime soon.
 
Buying gun parts and assembly of a firearm is manufacturing, difficult gray area to operate in if your are selling the assembled firearm. And want to stay out of federal prison.
 
My gs( grad of a gunsmith course) also has an ammo manufacturer lic. When I was building a glock, I asked him if he could assemble( I had every part) it for me, he said no doesn't have a firearms manufacturer lic. But once it is fully assembled he could repair it.
 
I started doing my own "light-medium duty" gun smithing, machining parts and alterations as needed after I took a rifle in to the local shop years ago to have a scope put on. When I walked in and saw his set up I said, thanks but I'll do it myself. I couldn't believe he actually did any work of precision out of that shop. I have a well complimented machine shop and do everything and anything I need for my shooting sports, about the only thing I haven't done is chamber a barrel but someday I just might.
 
I'm kind of the shadetree gunsmith. I used to do minor repairs when I had my shop. I'm not a machinist, my dad was. At one time I was a precion parts fitter, you know files, stones and blacking for zero tolerance fitting. I can hand make some parts repair broken stocks, bed a rifle, install and headspace a nutted barrel, pretty much what I need to get a cheap basket case firearm working again. I know my limitations and do send some stuff out
 
This is who apprenticed my friend

Bob Green's Rifles

Complete Bench & Varmint Rifles Precision Barrel Installation Superior Custom Dies and Tooling Specializing in craftsmanship
greensrifles.com
Other than price, it’s hard to want any more factory rifles
 
I like Bob work .
Had some in my shop a time or 2 .
And you know the good one by there barrel shank.
And blue printing

I don't stress if I need to put a barrel on one he has worked on .tuff complment coming from some one who also does this .
Thanks Cody
 
I agree that a true gunsmith is different from a guy that assembles rifles from prefit parts… but have to admit, the prefit rifles can sure shoot. I’m kinda tired of looking at all the cookie cutter rifle builds out there but no denying they are very accurate.
 


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