my daughter requests gunsmith help!

[Teutonics]

Hoping to get some help from the gunsmiths on PPOT. I know there are several threads that I have followed with admiration, so hoping I can call on the "brain trust" for some assistance.

My daughter is in third grade and has selected a project on gunsmiths. Good for her that she has an interest in spoons (a good father/daughter activity that we enjoy), but a touchy subject in public schools.

She has to give a presentation to the class on gunsmiths (but obviously can't bring supporting subject material!), so she has come up with some questions that we are hoping one of the resident gunsmiths can help answer:

1. She needs to dress up as a gunsmith. I'm guessing a work apron and safety glasses, but what else would a gunsmith typically wear while working?

2. What tools are most used for gunsmithing? Anything that I may have in my shop that she could take as a prop?

2. As mentioned above, she needs to give a speech to the class on gunsmiths and gunsmithing. Beyond repairing guns, any suggestions on material to include? What training and/or licensing is available/required?

3. She also needs to make a poster on gunsmiths, any creative ideas?

I'll try to post her (written) speech after she has it completed... maybe even some pictures of her "costume" if we can come up with something good.

Thanks for any help, and I know she will appreciate it as well!

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

1. I would add gloves, nitrile or latex, maybe some leather gloves for effect? Steel toe shoes but I doubt you'd need to go to that extreme.

2. A precision screwdriver tool kit, dead blow hammer or preferably a rawhide one, some wood dowels, taps and dies, and cleaning kits with cleaning chemicals.

3. What about wood working, working with old fittings, metal work, precision tap and dies, updating safety features, adding childproof locks/locking mechanisms.

4. How about a crafty old guy, maybe kinda like Santa, in a leather apron with some old pieces lying around.



Maybe she could take in some fake, plastic spoons if the administration will allow it. Offer to let the administration hold the toys until and after the presentation so noone is playing with them in class.

Best of luck!!!

[aleerpsoftware]

wat is a gunsmith?? is it a game??

[splinterAMG]

Attempted to have my (then) 3rd-grade son give a gunsmith and handloading principles demonstration to his contemporaries only to be shot down at the mere suggestion.
“Are you a terrorist?!"
Far too few around here can even acknowledge our Second Amendment.

My late father rode L.A. city buses (with his rifle alongside!) while earning his UCLA degree and accolades for marksmanship on its shooting team.
There’s likely a different mindset in your neighborhood these days.

[Bill Douglas]

She could take a slightly different tack, and that is guns (say a 1911) are used in competitions and a gunsmith makes an average gun into an excellent gun that WINS competions. Of course competitions is more about the person not the gun, but it is a presentation to kids.

[vash]

i've never seen a gunsmith "uniform"..unless you can consider a cigarette a uniform.

sounds like a tricky project for an eight year old..kudos to her! wish her luck, from me.

[flipper35]

2. small files are also needed and a/some small brass punches.

[azasadny]

Put some Hoppes behind her ears for that "gunsmith perfume"!

[Hugh R]

I think that is great. Perhaps she can give her next presentation on how to distill and age Whiskey!! Maybe another one of rolling your own cigarettes. You know, do the whole Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms thing.

Show her how you can call the ATF and ask them questions like "Hey, I have a S&W 9mm, what cigarettes would go well with that?", The helpful ATF agent will say "Well, what brand of whiskey are you drinking?".

[Mericet]

Still in training but I will answer some questions.

A work apron seems to be ubiquitous. Safety shoes is not that needed but it would depend on the shop rules. I am one of the only students in my class that wear them. I like my toes. Big yes on safety glasses.

The tools are quite diverse. A magnetic bit screwdriver set, small hammer and a punch set gets a lot of use. A fileset (large and needle) gets a lot of use as well. A wood rasp or sanding block when working on stocks.

No licensing requirements (outside of what we need to abide by for ATF rules). There is a few good schools. Look at the program at our school: https://www.montgomery.edu/ for starters. There is also a few schools in CO and one in CA (Lassen). There is also a school in Belgium but I do not have any info on them.

Will post anything else I can think of.

[Mericet]

Measuring tools such as a rule, caliper and micrometer is always needed as well.

[Steve F]

A magnified head gear would be cool, I know I need one

[Teutonics]

Great information and suggestions (and humor), thanks!

[iplagolf]

Hugh R...Funny stuff! How about just a short explanation of what they do today but much more about their history and what they did for the country from the on-set. Start with the blunderbuss rifles of the pilgrims up to todays modern guns and ammunition. Handmade and one of a kind. No interchangeable parts, etc. You can get lots of pictures off the web for show and tell. Make it a history lesson. Just a side note, I can't believe they're letting you do this. Is it just her teacher that knows? I think it's great. Get ready for the S#!t storm. I remember in third grade I drew a picture in art of a ground hog in the cross hairs of a scope. Dad got a new varmint rifle. Do that today, I'd of been expelled. Fritz

[abisel]

You could contact the NRA to get suggestions. They may even send out Eddie Eagle to help teach the kids about gunsmithing and gun safety.

[Mericet]

Originally Posted by abisel

You could contact the NRA to get suggestions. They may even send out Eddie Eagle to help teach the kids about gunsmithing and gun safety.

Excellent idea!

I also liked the idea of making it a little history on the manufacturing of firearms.

[Mericet]

Allen, PM me your address. I have a promotional CD from my college for the gunsmithing program that might be of help.

[Teutonics]

Awesome, sending PM now. Thanks!

[targa911S]

I look like this...except now I have a giant scar on my neck...




Go to Brownells.com and look around also google larry potterfield he fits the image of the modern gunsmith. Old timey smiths were just that metal and wood smiths they would look like tradesmen. like blacksmiths. Neil will get you the right stuff. He's the real pro here. I'm a humble hobbiest. Someday he will have a journeyman's certificate, I will never have one of those.