[bufford5]

After f***ing around for a while, I got my a$$ back in school. Odd jobs here and there for a while, tried the military and it didnt agree with me. I have about 2 semesters (24 credits short) before I get my AA degree from Community College. Is there a good BA degree I can get that can branch off/ have applications that would greatly help in gunsmithing?

 

[Dane Burns]

BUSINESS and ECONOMICS

 

[bufford5]

I was actually thinking about Business/Economics. After reading some posts here and from the other forum, it would come in handy. Gunsmiths do need to keep track of all sorts of costs, evaluation of the market (reasonable prices for consumers), competition comparison, etc. I also thought maybe if I had an engineering degree, maybe that would help in understading/producing quality work. I only have 2 semesters left to think on this before I have to pick a major. Lets say I did pursue a Business degree, where should I go from there? Go to a gunsmith school afterwards or maybe an apprenticeship? Lots of decisions and not a whole lot of time :sad:

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: bufford5 on 2001-04-13 03:15 ]</font>

 

[Dane Burns]

Gunsnmith school would be my bet...Colorado seems to have a very good one..Trinidad I think. Must be others...anyone know of them?

 

[BK]

Some possibilties might be-
CAD/CAM class
metalwork/shop type class
welding
Accounting

best suggestion so far is Business :smile:

 

[Dane Burns]

bufford5 wrote:
Gunsmiths do need to keep track of all sorts of costs

You have no idea how much a business background will effect your lifestyle as a self employed person. Keeping track is just a TINY part of what you have to do with some aplumb. Pistolsmithing is easy compared to the making a business successful. I spend over half my time on my "business" and the other half building guns...if I am lucky. Guess what kind of hours you end up working doing both?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Dane Burns on 2001-04-13 13:07 ]</font>

 

[TaxPhd]

I'd like to offer my take on Dane's excellent reply.

Not all business degrees are the same. IMHO, accounting or finance are really the only two to consider. Why? Because they give you a saleable job skill that people are willing to pay for. You actually finish school knowing how to do something.

If you had to pick between those two, then accounting. Why? Accountants can (and do) do everything that is done by any other business major, but only accountants can do what accountants do. Great job security.

If you are going to work for yourself, then accounting again. people with good, solid business ideas fail for two primary reasons. Lack of capital and lack of accounting knowledge. If you can't keep track of your finances, do your books, handle the taxes, and truly understand what all of the numbers mean, you may be sucessful, but it will probably be a fluke.

Economics is wonderful knowledge to have, but not the best thing to major in if you are only going to get a B.S. degree with no grad school. Why? How many jobs do you know about that require a B.S. in economics? There aren't many. It is more theoretical than practical.

Major in accounting to get the skills. Minor in economics for the theory/conceptual understanding that it will give you. Then, if you have a good business idea, you will have the skills to make it work.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Trinidad State Junior College indeed has a good gunsmithing school. P.O. Ackley once taught there. It's also in a beautiful area, 200 miles south of Denver, just a few miles north of Raton NM. Excellent deer, elk and turkey hunting and great fishing.

 

[Dave Severns]

Can't believe I'd ever recommend anything in the People's Republik, but Susanville, CA has a Community College which offers a gunsmithing program, believe toward an AA degree. Has a decent reputation around these parts.

 

[gyp_c2]

Trinidad...not too far either...
I have a friend that bought 13 acres down there for next to nothin'...Drilled in the wrong place and his grandma' almost scalped him...
It is beautiful around there and I've heard about that school and another out east...Limon?,,,you know what I'm talkin' about Larry?
Or is it Northeast closer to Kansas...?
I'll check...:wink:

 

[Matt VDW]

I second the recommendation of an accounting major. I'm convinced that accountants rule the world. :smile:

 

[amalgam]

I've heard that an economist is someone who didn't have the personality to become an accountant. :smile:

 

[mike357]

there is a gunsmithing school in Tishamingo, Ok. from what i've heard it's a pretty decent school.