I was at Borders today and they had a "coffe table" type book on European gunmakers - super awesome engraving, drillings, doubles, - all bespoke type guns. Got me to thinking - just how does a guy get a job working on those type of guns?

I am thinking of the nicer stuff in the US - the Krieghoffs, Kolars and such. I can not imagine how a guy would build up a resume to be able to go to say Conneticut Shotgun Company and asking to work on a nice sidelock or old Parker.

So where do they find these guys? I woulda thought from old apprenticeships but is that still being done today in the US?

I am not looking for the job - just wondering where a company would find a guy to work on ultra-high dollar guns -the average gunplumber just wont do I imagine and I would think a rifle guy would tend to be a rifle guy and there seems to be more guys into rifles than shotguns as far as being a custom type.

How much time in a gunsmith school is really devoted to sidelocks, boxlocks ect. ?

I'm not sure, but my brother went to Yavapai College, got his degree in gunsmithing and went to work for Bolsa Gunsmithing out here in Westminster. They are a Beretta, Browning, Remington, etc. factory repair shop and he also gets to work on the customer's high end Perazzi's, etc.



Most of his work is just factory warranty work, however, on 870s, 1100s, Brownings, etc.

Well you hire on as an apprentice and in time you learn the craft. How do you think an Actioneer for Holland and Holland got to be an Actioneer? It takes time and a lot of it. As for shotgun work, I would say that die hard shotgunners are just as picky as riflemen. It takes a lot of effort and work. Getting thru school is just a start, the real work begins when you gain some general experience and then are able to apprentice to a real craftsman. Its like anything else in life you get out of it what you are will put in to it.

teal325



The way would be to start with a gun school simular to the one in Ferlach and continue as apprentice at any of the manufacturers in Spain, Italy, Ferlach, Germany, France or UK.



Cheers

/ JOHAN