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made, gun slings installed, and a host of other The third precaution is that you must observe
necessities, including the purchase of ammo and local residential zoning ordinances and laws
gun cleaning kits. All of these things mean extra about running a business in your home. Some
money for the trained gunsmith, one who knows cities or localities have ordinances that forbid
the correct answers when they are needed. You operating certain businesses in residential areas.
can work for yourself or someone else; the pay is Be sure you do not break the law. A telephone
good either way. call to local authorities will usually provide the
answers quickly.
A BUSINESS OF YOUR OWN
Doing service work in your free time is a good
At one time or another, almost everyone has place to start. This type of business requires the
wanted to be his or her own boss—to have a least investment and gives you the security of
business of one’s own. Running a business of your retaining your regular job while you gain expe-
own brings a sense of independence and an op- rience. There are many gunsmithing jobs you
portunity to use your own ideas. You will be the can do at your own home. As we mentioned
top person and you cannot be fired. It will mean a earlier, you need a Federal Firearms License,
chance for higher income because you can collect and you must be sure to check the zoning regu-
a salary plus a return on your investment. lations for your neighborhood. Once your busi-
ness is started, you can use your technical skill
Many beginning gunsmiths start out on a part-
to increase the services you provide and increase
time basis. That is, as they learn about firearm
your profits.
operation, disassembly, troubleshooting, and
similar techniques, they get started in the busi- Another possibility is to make an arrangement
ness by servicing firearms of neighbors and with a local sporting goods store, or another re-
friends. If they are good at it, a night and week- lated business, to use a portion of their store for
end business can grow until it becomes their your shop. A workbench, a bench vise, and the
main business. Here are a few important pre- tools you get with your Sonoran Desert Institute
cautions about working in your home or garage. course are about all you need to get started. You
might have to pay some rent or give the owner a
First of all, you must have a Federal Firearms
percentage of your fees, but the additional cus-
License to work on any firearm other than your
tomers the store should get from having a gun-
own. The next lesson will show you how to ap-
smith on the premises should more than offset
ply for a Federal Firearms License. Also, check
any costs.
state and local laws regulating the sale and ser-
vice of firearms, as well as insurance regulations. SERVICE MANUALS
The second precaution is to never load a gun
Manufacturers of most American-made fire-
for testing inside of your home or garage.
arms provide parts lists and takedown instruc-
Malfunctioning firearms pose a dangerous
tions for each. This information is very useful to
threat when loaded. Test-firing in a confined
the gunsmith, especially if a certain model has
space such as your garage is a bad idea; almost
never been encountered before. Many of these
any caliber can penetrate through the sheet rock
same manufacturers also have service manuals
in most houses. Always use dummy rounds (car-
for their various models that give specifications,
tridges that will not fire) when testing a firearm
principles of operation, assembly/disassembly
for feeding or functioning.
instructions, and most important, troubleshoot-
ing and repair techniques.

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