headed to school!

[japple]

Well after my last thread where we discussed the aprenticeships and schools, I thought I would give all of you involved an update. I have decided to go to Trinidad for the gunsmithing program. I have been accepted and am headed there for the spring semester! I would like to thank everyone for the advice and help in making the decision. I think that the final decision was made after talking to Speedy Gonzalez and him telling me that on top of going to school, I could work in his shop as well learning some more advanced techniques! It really seemed like the best of both worlds and an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I will keep you guys updated as things progress and will deffinately post pictures of the rifles that I build!

Thanks all for your insight and advice!
John

 

[bigngreen]

Right on man!!!!!! Don't forget us here at LRH when your having all that fun learning from some of the best. I've been reading on the program also, my situation won't exactly permit me to pull stakes and do it but I'm keeping it in the back of my mind, well I guess it's not to far back in my mind!

 

[300R]

Congratulations mate,let us know how you get on,i have been doing a lot of research and trinidad looks like a great school,i am still deciding if i am gonna take the plunge and head to the States to learn gunsmithing my two schools of choice are trinidad and cst.How many students per class at trinidad.

 

[japple]

I didn't ask how many students per class, but I asked a number of question about shop time. I was told there is plenty of extra time to work on extra projects (extra guns and jigs, which speedy has lots of extra prints), if you put your head down and work while you are there. Speedy told me thatsome people just do the minimum required while other have built as many as 35 different guns while they were there. So there is ample shop time and usage.

 

[winmag]

CONGRATS Japple!!!
Hey if I have gainfull employment again by spring and you need a rifle or two to practice on, lemme know. I have a couple in my gun cabnet that are waiting for some love. Id love to do something with them. Both are Model-70 Winchesters.... Hmmm go figure, me with a bunch of Model-70's... one is a 30-06, and the other is a 300wby. Both completely factory minus diy triggers and recoil pads. The -06 needs a new pipe, and the 300wby I want set up for my dedicated L/R toy.
Id be delighted to keep my $ local or at least get the work done by a local Eastern Oregon guy, (Even if your in another state).
Best of luck to you on your adventure!! Sounds like a dream come true. I have a wife and kids and too many reasons why I cant up and go to school, or Id join you!
Dont be a stranger to L/R/H. Im guessing you may acquire a large clientell from here. Like I said Id be honored to be one of the first if I have the $ to. Just let me know.

 

[japple]

I would be more than hapy to work on your rifles when things get going down there! I am pretty excitied about it, now just have to sell the house and get moved! I will deffinately stay in touch here on LRH, you guys are the ones who got me addicted (before it was just an interest) in precision rifles. I will be sure to let everyone know what is happening and how things are progressing. The NRA whittington center is only 20-30 minutes from the school, so I will have lots of opportunities to take the rifles out and play with them. I am allreeady coming up with a list of rifles to build there. Trying to get as big of a variety as I can! Thanks for the support winmag!!!

John

 

[Chas1]

Congratulations. Go for it, don't look back and don't second guess yourself even when the going gets a little tuff. We're all pulling for you and one day we expect to see a pic of your Gunsmith Shop. Take care and best of everything to you and yours.

 

[whitely]

Sounds good. Just be careful when you head out to the local watering holes - you might get more than meets the eye!

Trinidad, Colorado - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[japple]

That article was hilarious! I never would have guessed that! I don't however think that will affect me at all since I am taking the fam. down with me.

@ chas... no looking back at all on this one, I hope I don't second guess myself! Moving four people there and taking out student loans, this is an all or nothing deal! That is why I was making sure to find the right school with the right people! I really wanted to do an apprenticeship, but they just seen to get fewer and fewer available, with trinidad and speedy, I can do both school and appentice style learning so I think it is the best fit!

 

[shortgrass]

This will be a 'once in a life time' opportunity, make and do many projects for yourself! The work you do (under the supervision of the instructors) is likely to be 'head & shoulders' above many commercial shops. My 'hind sight' says, "I wish I had".

 

[Chas1]

This will be a 'once in a life time' opportunity, make and do many projects for yourself! The work you do (under the supervision of the instructors) is likely to be 'head & shoulders' above many commercial shops. My 'hind sight' says, "I wish I had".

shortgrass , as a full time gunsmith & custom rifle builder, I'd say you've done pretty good so not sure what you mean by "I wish I had"

 

[shortgrass]

shortgrass , as a full time gunsmith & custom rifle builder, I'd say you've done pretty good so not sure what you mean by "I wish I had"

I wish I had done more projects just for myself. I did, mostly, for friends and family. When I started gunsmith school 19 years ago, we were still learning to make rifle and shotgun stocks by hand from a blank (not 'turned' on a duplicating machine). You were required 2 of each. I made 7 rifle stocks and 2 shotgun stocks. All but two of the rifle stocks were for someone else and both shotgun stocks were, too. My fastest time for a rifle stock was about 100 hours of labor, not including the hand rubbed oil finish. We were required 5 hot re-blue jobs. To get any kind of a grade your completed job would have to rival those found on "American Custom Gun Makers Guild" guns. A true 'custom' finish that'll 'knock your eyes out'. No pits! Not even those the size of a sewing pin point. Only one of those was for a rifle of my own. These are just a couple of examples. I'm glad I could do for family and friends, I just wish I had found a better 'balance' between family and friends and for myself ( I hope that's not being too selfish!) The jobs that get above average grades are those most will never see or handle unless you are around the "American Custom Gun Makers Guild" or know a member of the "guild" or a gunsmith school graduate or an individual that seriously applied themselves. After you graduate you will have trouble finding that 100 hours to 'do' for yourself. (Some, in the class I was in, found these endevors to be a waste of time. Why do work very few will recognize or appreciate? Or, I'm only interested in S.S. and synthetic stocks. The lessons, as presented when I was in school, were ment to teach "attention to details" and provide the graduate with the knowlege to go as far as he might want to go in the trade. If you don't learn what the finest is you will only learn half the lesson and never know that there is 'something better' to strive for!) Those items I did for myself while in school are among my 'most prized posessions', maybe,,,, once in a life time accomplishments (because of the amount of time required).

 

[Chas1]

Shortgrass, thanks for explaining, makes sense to me know and I don't think your being selfish...hard to explain but, I know where your coming from.