The reason that I am doing this is ONLY for certification. For some customers, it matters. For some agencies, it matters. The fact is that if you want to become a good gunsmith, you will need to:
1. Purchase/Fabricate a Bench
2. Purchase tools. You will never stop purchasing them.
3. Purchase firearms. Purchase firearms that don't work. Purchase Parts Kits. You are a gunsmith, you are the legoman of the gun world.
4. PUT IN BENCH TIME
5. Read publications. Try to get a hold of older books, they have the most valuable knowledge I have found so far.
6. PRACTICE YOUR FILING SKILLS!!! Not office paperwork filing. I mean, grab a file, and make something with it. When I was at the Colorado School of Trades, my first three months were using a file to hand craft things such as Depth Gages, Recoil Pad Installation fixtures, etc etc. You will never amount to much of a gunsmith if you have terrible filing skills. I cannot stress becoming good with a file enough.
7. Don't be a know-it-all, you will learn something new everyday with this trade.
8. You will not be a 'Master' gunsmith in one year. Not two years. Five years is out of the question. 10 years is an understatement. It will take your entire life of devotion to your craft to be a 'Master' or noteworthy gunsmith. Even then, the Master smiths that can be considered masters are only masters in a specific field, or maybe a few fields. I have yet to meet a Master smith that knows everything about every gun, or 'Smithing service and if you meet someone like that then you know they are full of Sh**.
9. Maintain and keep positive your reputation. This is simple and straightforward. There is no room for you in the industry if you are missing pieces of core qualities like Integrity, Honor, Pride.