It Don't Come Easy: The Life and Times of a Gunsmith

Week seven article summary assignment is titled: It Don’t Come Easy: The life and times of a gunsmith. This article was written by Brian Capps and added to the online American Gunsmith Business Development section back in February 2015.

Brian begins his article by explaining how his friend, mentor, fellow gunsmith, and boss is having a grouchy day because things were not going right all morning and just before going to lunch they get a visit by someone who claims they are not a solicitor but are indeed a salesman. After shuffling this guy out the door, someone by the nickname Peter Paul arrives with about three Mausers that he wants serviced, repaired, or modified. After being serviced he always requested the firearms be test fired. Doing such a task is in Brian’s forte so after finding that a firing pin spring was too weak to crush the primer, Brian replaced it and fired a round off which to his surprise caused a white fireball to climb his arm. Of course this startled him and brought the boss over to find out what was going on. After explaining what had happened Brians boss took a few shots with the same Mauser and of course nothing remotely close happens. When the rifles were done being serviced and Peter Paul was called to come pick them up, the story of the fireball was told to him which gave the same reaction of Brian’s boss. Peter Paul wanted to shoot the rifle clear up any lingering doubt. The first shot went off without a hitch, however, the second shot produced the white fireball the same as before but this time there were more witnesses to the event. After discussing what had happened, it was determined that there was some slow burning powder in one of the rounds that were used.

The majority of Brian’s article this week is just like the story about Peter Paul and his Mauser rifles. Brian is giving us readers an insight to the kind of work that comes in a typical gunsmith shop on a daily basis. The end of Brian’s article talks about restoration jobs that gunsmiths often get asked to do. The reality of restoration jobs is more costly than the gun is usually worth. This was the case for Brian and a gunsmith friend of his when asked to restore a rifle and shotgun. Reluctantly Brian and his gunsmith friend accepted the job. When all was said and done, the rifle and shot gun were picked up by the customers who after seeing them, had tears of joy in their eyes remembering the good ol days when their relatives used these rifles to put food on the table for the family. Brian states that being a gunsmith is a struggle at times but moments like these make being a gunsmith worthwhile.