Basics provides the foundational building blocks for a successful career in the Gunsmithing Industry. Students are first introduced to blueprint reading and then transfer the blueprint to metal or wood stock using industry approved measuring techniques and begin the manufacturing process. Students receive instruction in the use of hand tools ranging from hacksaws to files. With these hand tools students will achieve parallel surfaces, square surfaces, radiuses and contours. Students will learn to keep tolerances of one thousandth of an inch all by hand. Other foundational process students will learn during the Basics Section include polishing, drilling and tapping and basic shop math.
Students will also complete a restoration project on a real firearm, in which the steel will be polished or bead blasted. Following up with hot caustic salt blued. The stock will receive an oil finish applied by hand. Soldering and TIG welding are other foundational skills students will receive instruction on during the Basics Section. As a culmination of skills students will be tasked with understanding the moving parts of eight major firearm action types, this process aids in the troubleshooting, diagnostic and repair of most types of both antique and modern firearms.
