Once the last person who knows how to perform a certain process or why something was done a
certain way leaves the bench, that knowledge is gone forever. No amount of CNC capability or
digital archiving can replace or recover it later. Finesse gunsmithing requires skilled artisans.
How does one acquire the skill? Apprenticeship. Mentorship. Training. A cultivation of passion
amongst the next generation.
A competent machinist can be trained in months.
A true fine shotgun gunsmith takes 10–20 years to mature.
If training pauses for even a single generation, the gap cannot be quickly or easily bridged. The
shooting sports are growing, but the number of trained human beings to carry on the trade is
dwindling. If there is no one left with the depth of experience to teach, then the entire craft of
fine gunsmithing vanishes.
It is the responsibility of those in the trade today to ensure access to skilled smiths in the future.
Without skilled hands to maintain, restore, and correctly diagnose and repair these guns, their
usable life dramatically shortens and their values diminish. Some guys try to figure it out, but
poor repair is often worse than no repair at all, permanently damaging irreplaceable pieces.
Training the next generation is critical to safeguarding the recreational use of sporting shotguns
going forward.
The fine shotgun industry runs on reputation. Reputation is built by delivering information and
quality service, consistently over time.
Collectors and sportsmen and women alike rely on gunsmiths to have knowledge and integrity
regarding:
• What should be repaired (and how)
• What should be left alone (and why)
• What is original vs what is not
• Valuation
When knowledgeable professionals disappear, confidence erodes. Values become unstable.
Eventually, the art of the trade weakens.
Under proper mentorship, the younger generation can help the trade strengthen and evolve.
Without training, evolution stops—and stagnation is often fatal to heritage crafts. At Cole, we
have invested heavily in the next generation. In addition to USA based training with some of the
best, we have taken several of our smiths to Italy for factory training. We are so fortunate to have
a team of young men (women welcome, too!) eager to learn and deliver quality service. We
mustn’t take our craftspeople for granted; we believe this training is not just important, but our
responsibility—one owed to the guns, the craft, and the people who will inherit both.
If you or a young person you know is interested in learning more, be sure to reach out!