While the guild system never became firmly established in the US, there is evidence that in the 1700's and early 1800's a gunsmith's apprentice was usually an indentured servant. This practice stopped as debtor's prisons were abolished circa 1833.
http://myvesta.org/history/history_debtorprison.html

Later there does not appear to be an apprenticeship program. Journeyman were highly mobile. In many cases the journeyman of the European guilds was replaced by factory workers. Most seemed to own little real property. Often they are found living in rooming houses with their place of residence changing from year to year even if their place of employment stayed the same.

The Master class would have been the named owner, eg Lefever. Often these master's were property owners. They acquired financing, were responsible for marketing, design, etc. This still did not result in total stability as we see many of these firms moving.

Pete

http://www.damascus-barrels.com/Movie.html