I graduated in 1971 from Trinidad with a degree in gunsmithing. I've been back for the pass 7 years teaching some of the one week long NRA summer gunsmithing seminars. I would travel from my home in Washington State to Trinidad for two weeks and teach. I think they have an adverage teaching staff. The school has some good shops, lots of equipment to learn the craft from.
As far as the town of Trinidad goes, at one time it was a coal minning town. It's not at the end of the world, but you can see it from there. A few years ago there were some teaching positions available so I sent for the information. My wife had been through Trinidad and she said that if I wanted to work there that I would be a lonely man, because she wasn't going.
I think of all the gunsmithing schools out there, Trinidads the best. I've taught and attended other seminars at other Junior Colleges. But I think twice before I brought my family there.
I lived in Pueblo for seven years and my wife's attitude toward the town was about the same as your wife's view of Trinidad. Someone once said that a native Puebloan thinks that if you drive north of Pinon on I-25 you'll fall of the edge of the earth! For those who don't know the area, Pinon is a little bump in the road just north of Pueblo.
Posts: 33 | Location: Iowa | Registered: 02 November 2003
Howdy. I am seriously considering making a career change to gunsmithing. I have been researching the various schools and have narrowed down my choices to Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ, Trinidad College in Trinidad, CO, and Lassen in CA. I have ruled out the Colorado School of Trades in Denver simply because I do not wish to relocate my family to the Denver area. I would be very interested to hear from any graduates of the listed schools and your opinions on the quality of education, job placements, quality of life in the towns, etc. Non-smiths are welcome to share any information you can about the different schools. Thanks in advance for any information provided.
The best thng I can tell you is to travel to Trinidad and take a look for yourself. The college it just like any other community college around the country, you won't have a problem there.
If you're from a small town you might just fit in. Just don't let them know you're a gunney ( gunsmithing student).
Mark: I currently live in North Central Montana 20 miles from the nearest town which has a population of 1500 so I don't know if I would suffer the same culture shock as you did. If anything Trinidad might seem too big. What exactly do you find lacking in Trinidad? Is it the lack of things to do? Or is there something wrong with the town itself? What are the locals like? Friendly?
I know what you mean. I grew up in Southern California and was 18 years old when I went to Trinidad. It was like I pitch a tent in the middle of the woods and went to college. It was very remote. One more thing about the town, back in the late sixties and early 70's it had a busy main street. You know, hardware stores and mom and pop businesses. Then Walmart came to town, most of the store fronts on Main Street are empty. What a shame..
