Where have the gunsmith’s gone? In my limited experience, the answer is “part time.”
That answer is a little raw this morning as I just sat with my friend (and ‘smith) last evening. His mill and lathe were the backdrop to our visit in his darkened shop. Only the light over the bench gave some hope. He crossed the 60 mark last year and the need for medical insurance became more obvious as old wear and tear issues demanded surgery. He reluctantly realized that he would have to respond to the market demand for his analytical and technical skills along with his increasingly rare work ethic. He now has a great paying job with full benefits. Since he owns his shop he was able to keep it and just take care of his long time customers. When he qualifies for Medicare in a few years he’ll retire and turn the lights back on.
