A question for gunsmiths/gunowners?

[Anthony]

What would you recommend taking in high school and what to take in college to help me own a gun shop and gunsmith too? Thanks in advance.

[Chris W]

Machine shop, and CNC programing and small business administration.

[Hamish]

Take courses in mathematics, engineering, physics, and chemistry. If you can take courses in machining, welding, woodworking, mechanics, etc... take those as well. Learning how to use many of the tools of the trade (lathes, band saws, torque wrenches, drill presses, welding equipment, etc..) are very useful.

Also consider taking any kind of business management courses your school offers. Some business law courses would also be very useful.

[August]

In high school, take your core classes and do well in them. That means your English, Math, Social Studies, and Sciences. Yes, you need to do well in Social Studies, even if it doesn't seem to relate directly to your intended career. Politics and economics classes will help you more than you realize.

For electives in high school, I would suggest classes such as shop, engineering (if offered), marketing (if offered), and other classes. Don't neglect things like physical education, either, and if you have any artistic bent whatsoever, get into some sort of arts class (music, art, creative writing, whatever). Again, just because it doesn't directly relate to your intended career doesn't mean you should ignore it. Art classes would be helpful if you ever intend to put custom paint schemes on guns, and music classes will give you a good outlet for stress later on in life.

When you get to college, you should probably find a technical school that offers gunsmithing, and pursue an Associate's Degree in business administration and your gunsmithing certificate. Remember that you may well have to go through an apprenticeship for gunsmithing, which could take quite a while.

And the final piece of advice I have to offer is this: most businesses fail within the first few years of operation. Only 35% of businesses last ten years, according to at least one source. I'm not saying that to discourage you, but to encourage you not to put all your eggs in one basket. Yes, owning your own business is great, but having a fallback plan is even better. If your business folds, having those other classes I mentioned will help you a whole lot.

[BBean]

I saw no use for trigonometry in high school, but it has been the most useful math in my work career and daily life. Anything from building a barn roof or just using the 3-4-5 formula to get the corner post square on a barbed wire fence. There is no end to the usefulness of trig and not that other math is less important, because you need the others to be able to do trig. My last job was in mold building and it would have been impossible to produce a Luer taper (used on medical syringes etc.) without the use of trig. Gunsmiths will use it in many ways also. So now that is just the math part.
Basic machine shop as others have said and welding is the second most useful in trade courses. I will add that TIG welding is the only welding type that I would ever use on firearms.(Tungsten/Inert Gas)
TIG welding is the violinist of the welding field. It is clean and ultra precise. You can actually restore a delicate part or even build a part on a firearm such as a front sight or even supplement artwork and applying hard faces on working surfaces such as locking lugs that are worn...... there is no end!
I do not want to give you a long-winded answer,but those above things are so important to your journey as a gunsmith.
Do not think for a second that I am down playing any other answers because all could be very important to your suggested career.

[SW28fan]

I have seen several gunsmiths fail because while skilled in the gun end of the business they neglect all the other aspects of running a business. So be prepared to be a machinist, accountant, customer service person, buyer, historian and salesman.

[Mrbill]

Working and living on a farm I had to fix what was broken. Some brought me things and guns were part of this. Wood shop and metal shop are a good start. If mom and dad are supportive, ask for a metal lathe. Some metal working web sites to do little projects. Educate your own self on ballistics and how pressures work. If you find a gun smith ask for work. How I started and much of my knowledge was self taught. Later I found people willing to share info. Worked well for me.
As a gunsmith you can be a specialist or general practitioner. I specialized in rifles and accuracy. Not into autoloaders and not into pistols. Have worked on most everything but accurate rifles are my area.