| Horseshoes |
| (member) |
| 07/07/2008 18:17 |
I'd like a Gun making apprenticeship..
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Hi All,
Does anyone have any idea how I'd go about finding an apprenticeship in gunmaking?
I'm 25 and a qualified farrier, it's a great job but it's extremely hard on the body and not much fun in the winter!!!! and just kind of thinking about a career change but I'd still like to use a lot of my metal and woodworking skills and combine it with my passion for clay shooting..
Any info or help would be much appreciated..
Thanks,
Alex
| Alastair_Balmain |
| (stranger) |
| 08/07/2008 17:38 |
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Re: I'd like a Gun making apprenticeship..
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Hi Alex,
It's not something I know a huge amount about, but I would think that the best place to start would be with either the Gun Trade Association or the livery company, the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers. The GTA has a website, www.gtaltd.co.uk but the Gunmakers company does not, however you can find contact details through google, I'm sure.
The livery companies historically were responsible for apprenticeships, but today, I suspect that you would be best off approaching the English gunmakers direct to find out about routes in to the trade.
I'd be interested to know if anyone can shed some more light on this for Alex. I'm afraid while I know apprenticeships do still exist, I wouldn't know how to go about applying or taking one up...
Are there any gun trade members who'd like to share their experiences out there?
Alastair.
| CBD |
| (member) |
| 25/07/2008 16:05 |
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Re: I'd like a Gun making apprenticeship..
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This is the governments site on apprenticeships, might shed some light or at least offer a contact to ask the question.
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/
This is not quite the same, but in America the NRA offer short training courses in all aspects of gunsmithing and stock work, take a look in the Training section on their website; also Montana Long Guns in the States offer a pretty well respected course in custom gunstock making
http://www.mtlongguns.com/gunfitting_academy.htm
Now this bit I might be totaly wrong with, but I'm sure I heard/read that Matthew at the BASC Firearms Dept was a former gunsmith/maker with one of the London gun trade, maybe one of the team at BASC may have an idea.
Follow your dream Alex; I intend to, Montana Long Guns here I come!