There is little doubt that when it comes to the gunsmithing segment of the firearms industry, professional or otherwise, Brownells is the leading supplier. Beyond the myriad of gun parts and accessories the company now sells, it's gunsmithing tools and products where Brownells got its start. Perhaps no longer the core of its business because of the vast growth of the other segments they serve, gunsmiths still represent the heart and soul of Brownells.

Eight years ago, Brownells thought it might be a good idea for the gunsmithing trade. Today, it has blossomed into a full-fledged event (Top). The event even gives Frank Brownell (left, below) the chance to visit with experts in a business he loves. Brownells photos with permission.

Eight years ago, Brownells hosted its first Gunsmithing Job Fair. It was established as a vehicle to give back to the industry - particularly gunsmiths. Today the event has blossomed into a full fledged Gunsmith Conference and Career Fair. On gunsmithcareerfair.com Pete Brownell, the company's CEO and third generation of the Brownell family to lead the company, says, "Staying grounded in our roots as a gunsmithing supply business is very important to us. We created the Gunsmith Conference and Career Fair to be a forum for future gunsmiths, veteran gunsmiths and gun-related companies to learn, share, and interact with one another - this has grown into an annual event that we all look forward to." But to fully appreciate the importance of the Gunsmith Conference and Career Fair to Brownells and the Brownell family, The Shooting Wire went to Frank Brownell, Chairman of Brownells and generation #2 of the famous firearms industry family. SW: Since 1939 Brownells has been serving the gun owner, and gunsmiths in particular. What prompted Brownells to start hosting a job fair for gunsmiths back in 2007? FB: We had quite a few requests from a wide variety of custom firearms makers and gun companies asking us where they could find good, trained gunsmith employees. Since we've always worked closely with the gunsmithing schools, it seemed a natural thing to bring the two groups together. The schools could find employment for their students, and the gun shops and factories could find trained folks to hire. SW: When you planned the first 'Gunsmithing Job Fair' did you expect it to grow into an annual event that now is a 'Gunsmith Conference and Career Fair'? Did you anticipate such a strong response from gunsmiths, gunsmithing schools and the firearms industry? FB: We planned for it to be an annual event right from the start. The first one was a great success and the enthusiasm of the attendees, companies and students just reinforced that plan. The students showed a huge interest in the two informal roundtable discussions that first year; they had a real hunger to learn all they could about the industry. The employers were thrilled with the quality of employees they found to interview and hire. We simply listened to our attendees and expanded the concept every year. And the event has grown almost exponentially, to the point we have filled all the space in the current venue and are looking for another larger space with the same services we now get. SW: Despite the growing popularity of the event, Brownells still doesn't charge attendees or exhibitors to participate. Why? FB: My dad, Bob, always believed - and said, "If you can help, you do". This is a place we can help. We want everyone who is interested enough to come - often from long distances at their expense - not to have to also pay to get in. We just don't want to discourage anyone from participating. SW: As modern firearms manufacturing improves there is seemingly less and less need for gun owners to turn to a gunsmith. Yet, firearms enthusiasts never seem to tire of tinkering with or customizing their guns. Brownells knows gunsmithing better than anybody, so what is it about working on a gun that so fascinates gun owners? FB: I'd disagree about the need for a gunsmith - firearms are still frequently complex pieces of machinery that can break and need a knowledgeable pro to fix properly. And, building a true custom firearm is far beyond the skills of most casual gun tinkerers, which means custom gunsmiths and their shops are as valuable and important as ever. We do sell to the casual, hobby gun enthusiast whose fascination with working on their own guns probably comes from a love of all things mechanical. There's also a sense of pride in building your own firearm, just as there is in restoring a car, or building a boat, or your own personal bow. That wonderful "I did it" syndrome we all have. Folks - guys and gals alike - just love to tinker and make things. We'd also like to think the really serious home gunsmiths will eventually decide to become professionals and share their love and passion for guns, and turn a profit in doing so. SW: In the next 5, 10 even 20 years, where do you see the gunsmithing segment of the industry going? Will we see more professional gunsmiths, more skilled amateurs or will it be both? FB: Many of today's new gun owners aren't mechanical - they didn't grow up fixing their Model T, '40 Ford coupe, '55 Chevy or '72 Camaro - or even their bicycle. I see the need for skilled gunsmiths continuing, and growing. Yes there will be always be skilled amateurs who have that mechanical knowledge and desire, who can do work that's as good as some of the pros. But with the general public's lack of mechanical ability and gun fixing skills, and an unwillingness to learn them, I think the professional gunsmith will continue to be in high demand. Plus, there are millions more guns in folks hands than ever before as folks begin to understand the reality of how it's totally up to them to protect themselves and their loved ones. Lord knows the police departments try to respond in a timely manner, but often it just isn't physically possible to get them on site while the situation is developing to be able to stop it. And that fact will never change - in fact it will worsen as cities, because of declining funds available, will have to further decrease the size of their police departments. SW: Finally, your father Bob Brownell started out as a gunsmith then got into the gunsmith supply business. Beyond the tremendous success his family business has enjoyed under your leadership, and that of Pete, how do you think he would view the company's commitment to gunsmiths embodied by the Gunsmith Conference and Career Fair? FB: Dad would be absolutely delighted. He was constantly trying to improve the professionalism of the gunsmithing industry. And, he was always encouraging information sharing within the industry. He was an extraordinary writer, way back when, he was doing the "Jack-Laig Journal" ads in The American Rifleman, which morphed into monthly newsletters which have now morphed into our internet WebBench Newsletter. The how-to's from the print newsletters have been collected into the Gunsmith Kinks books. He genuinely wanted to get the hows and whys and how to fix 'em info out to people who needed to know. He hated to see the great makers of his generation die and their secrets die with them. As a communicator, he would have loved today's world with all the ways information is passed around so quickly and easily. He'd be pushing us - and devising new ways - to grow it even bigger and faster. A special thanks goes to Frank Brownell for taking the time out of his very busy schedule to share his insights on gunsmithing and the Brownells Gunsmith Conference and Career Fair. With 72 exhibitors and over 400 gunsmiths coming to town Tuesday and Wednesday, April 1-2, the team at Brownells has a lot on their plate...including finding that bigger venue. - Paul Erhardt, Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network