In a message dated 8/2/03 11:20:55 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< As part of my current book writing project, I would like to be able to compare the percentage of the population that are gunsmiths today with the percentage that were gunsmiths in the early Republic. There are some problems with this: gunsmith has a somewhat different meaning today than it did back then. >> Counting Type 1 FFL's will probably undercount the number of gunsmiths today. For example, virtually every dealer with a range will have one or more employees on hand who fix guns, even if they do not produce guns from bare metal. Many dealers also have someone who can install small parts such as triggers or sights, or bed actions without a range. Additionally, larger outfits like Wilson's will have a number of gunsmiths who assemble guns from bare parts, even if there is only one license. Each of the manufacturers likely employs a number of people either in a "custom shop" or who merely work for the company assembling guns, many of whom likely have the skill and think of themselves as gunsmiths. Then there are people like Ernest Langdon, or my revolver smith, who do not have their own license, but who receive guns through a licensee, do their work, and then return the guns through the FFL. Dr. Zox's suggestion to have Brownell's give you their total number of dealer accounts seems like the best short term solution, but that may still overcount "hobby" gunsmiths and undercount those working for larger manufacturers. Perhaps a survey of the larger manufacturers and then an arbitrary dollar amount of product ordered from Brownell's in a given year against their total number of dealer accounts? This presumes that Brownell's will give you those figures, which are probably considered trade secrets. Another option is to contact the various organizations for gunsmiths such as the American Gunsmithing Institute, and American Pistolsmiths Guild, and the various trade education college programs to determine the number of members or graduates. Keep in mind that many gunsmiths, even today, do things other than gunsmithing to support themselves, most likely mechanical in nature such as tool and die making, or precision machining. Sounds like another complex question that you will answer in your next book. Regards, Scott Hattrup
