Where have all the gunsmiths gone?

Gunsmiths are scattered across the province. Most, however, are in southern Ontario. The Greater Toronto Area and surrounding regions have the most gun shops and gunsmiths in Canada. Even there, firearms businesses are closing and gunsmiths are retiring at an alarming rate. I recently chatted with four trade veterans about their views on the challenges facing gunsmithing. Control issues All four blame the industry’s accelerating decline on federal gun control. Bill C-68, the 1995 Firearms Act, introduced the long gun registry. According to Wes Winkel of Ellwood Epps, “The next three years were disastrous.” The industry rebounded until Bill C-71 passed in 2019. Now businesses are responsible for point-of-sale records for non-restricted firearms. Next, the 2020 Assault-style Firearms Ban prohibited over 2,500 makes and models. Then came the National Handgun Freeze in 2022. Both left shops with basically worthless inventory. Plus, chief firearms officers regulate all firearms businesses including gunsmiths. Gunsmiths must hold a valid Firearms Business Licence to possess or modify firearms. They face regular inspections to verify storage and record keeping. They must also follow strict rules for deactivation and verification. Is this death by attrition or by design? Accuracy Plus’ Jeff Tombs concludes that “uncertainty is now the biggest challenge.” Manufacturing impacts Winkel notes that, “In 1954 Winchester made all of their own parts — not anymore!” Most gun companies now rely on others, often overseas, to produce them. Some still make major components but outsource the rest, relying on assemblers instead of traditional skilled labour. “You could purchase a new rifle for $495 in 1995,” said Winkel. “Now you can buy one for $550.” With prices comparable and gunsmithing costs tripled, it’s cheaper to buy a new gun than to fix an old one. Long used to add ribs and recoil pads to shotguns, but now they come with them. The cost of repairs and labour is more than older guns are worth, he added. Moving parts All agree that adding after-market parts is not gunsmithing. Increasingly, gunsmiths turn away repair work on old guns because they can’t get parts quickly. Holman notes that some American after-market suppliers won’t ship to Canada. Long adds that few gun makers stock enough parts and, “It can take up to two years to get them!” The gunsmiths Wes Winkel: Owner of renowned Ellwood Epps Sporting Goods, near Orillia. He’s also President of the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association