I have quit my job.

[matthias]

After long and careful consideration I have quit my gunsmithing job. Due to changes in the ownership of the shop, continued issues with home life and overall benefits of being a gunsmith deminishing.

It has gotten harder and harder to go into work and fix grandpa's 22, then turn around and fix trap shotguns for highschool kids. I have been a general gunsmith for 5 years and fixed/worked on somewhere in the neighborhood of 6000 firearms over that time . Barreled 350+ rifles etc.

I just don't see how to keep going and have the same job satisfaction and interest in what I do. I can not continue doing the job for the general public if I am not striving for better results on every job.

I am starting a new chapter of being a hobby 'smith for me and me alone. It's a good thing my wife has a great job and I can become a stay at home dad for my 4 kids 5-9 years old.

Just had to get this out. Thanks for reading.

 

[HTSmith]

I can certainly see how it could be a burn out job. May God direct and bless you.

 

[swd]

Clean and oils on old every old pos and “can you find me a bolt” for this 22 rifle get old real fast!

Custom work is a lot of fun but can hard to break in to. If you shoot competitively it can be a great source of good work.

 

[Bc'z]

Congratulations, enjoy those kiddos while you can.

 

[Bruce W]

You only live once , and doing things that are distasteful is not good. Its great your wife has a good job and you can make that change . God bless your change in path. Bruce

 

[linebaugh]

Recently divorced and presently in a transition stage I was considering getting my license and doing work on the side but I have heard enough of these stories to make me question my thinking. Is making 5-10k a year extra worth the headaches??? I think you are probably on a better path and one I will continue down myself. Thanks for sharing and I wish you the best.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Your kids are the BIG winner!

 

[rebel]

I quit a 25 year career that I had worked up to the Management level. My BP was through the roof, I was grouchy and typically had one or two to many to get a nights sleep. Put everything I had in a small gun shop. I don't make squat, wife has a good job, we eat well, sleep well and love one another.
Enjoy your kids, recenter yourself and have fun sir!

 

[TAJ45]

Time with the young'uns will never be regretted. Even on the hair tearing days. My son is doing the same thing.
Enjoy, make it fun.

 

[dbduff]

After long and careful consideration I have quit my gunsmithing job. Due to changes in the ownership of the shop, continued issues with home life and overall benefits of being a gunsmith deminishing.

It has gotten harder and harder to go into work and fix grandpa's 22, then turn around and fix trap shotguns for highschool kids. I have been a general gunsmith for 5 years and fixed/worked on somewhere in the neighborhood of 6000 firearms over that time . Barreled 350+ rifles etc.

I just don't see how to keep going and have the same job satisfaction and interest in what I do. I can not continue doing the job for the general public if I am not striving for better results on every job.

I am starting a new chapter of being a hobby 'smith for me and me alone. It's a good thing my wife has a great job and I can become a stay at home dad for my 4 kids 5-9 years old.

Just had to get this out. Thanks for reading.

Speaking only for myself, I have never been happier in my 73 years than when I stepped away from a teaching job 50 years ago. I loved the kids but hated the adults that supervised me. It was the best thing for me I ever did. Good luck to you, don't worry over the "might have been". You're following your dream. Carry on!
D

 

[pirate ammo]

After 40 years of being on the oceans and being gone most of the time I was completely fed up.It was great at one time,but increasing company management and regulations turned a
great job into a bunch of "El Toro Caca".Got a small shop by my house and do what I want.Now take them kids out and shoot something,,safely.

 

[Evan]

Congratulations! Spending more time with your kids is never a bad decision and I would wager that you look back on this as the best decision you ever made for yourself and your family.

 

[Forum Boss]

I met an interesting lady the other day who rides motorcycles like me. We got to talking and she said she had been a widow for 12 years. I said “how can that be — you’re still young!”. She said her husband, a high pressure labor law attorney, dropped dead from a heart attack at age 51.

That made me think ... I worked as a litigation attorney for a decade before changing careers. Where would I be if I stayed in that job, working 12 hrs/day 29 days a month? One thing’s for sure, this Forum would not exist...

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ive made a few changes, all resulted in less money and less blood pressure. I was a general gunsmith until the first time a guy cried about giving me $45 for the 6-7hrs i spent working on his $75 shotgun

 

[Damfino]

I met an interesting lady the other day who rides motorcycles like me. We got to talking and she said she had been a widow for 12 years. I said “how can that be — you’re still young!”. She said her husband, a high pressure labor attorney, dropped dead from a heart attack at age 51.

That made me think ... I worked as a litigation attorney for a decade before changing careers. Where would I be if I stayed in that job, working 12 hrs/day 29 days a month? One thing’s for sure, this Forum would not exist...

Hard to argue that reducing stress isn't good for you. And everybody knows riding a motorcycle is excellent therapy.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I've been there and chased greener pastures for a few years. Yes, grandpa's old shotgun will drive you crazy and broke. I'm back doing what I love but no more $75 shotguns! No more wasting time hunting parts and not getting paid for those hours. I work on what I want to work on and am behind already. Oh, no more years behind on junk! If I can't get it done in a few weeks...I don't need it in my shop at that time.

Step away, enjoy the kids. You may want to get back into it later, like I did. Don't sell your stuff! I was shocked at some of the new prices for a few things that I did sell!

New attitude, new rules...and I'm on pace to have my best year ever! I never got completely out of it but tried to sell real estate and build flags and tuners on the side. In realty, both suffered and I had to decide what I wanted to do. My other job is farming and helping my dad whenever he needs me. I stay busy but I will make time for him for as long as he's still around. Some may remember a few years ago, when I nearly lost him, unexpectedly. I'll never be prepared for that day but I won't be in the same shape as I was then, when I could least afford it.

Keep your chin up, walk away for a bit and re-evaluate if the time comes. Spend time with your family and do what really matters in life.

 

[lancexxx]

I know exactly how you feel, Good luck

 

[Shawnba67]

[QUOTE="gunsandgunsmithing, post: 37504729, member:

Keep your chin up, walk away for a bit and re-evaluate if the time comes. Spend time with your family and do what really matters in life.[/QUOTE]
This man knows more than just rifles!
Lost my dad earlier this year, go hug yours if you can.
Quit my job to be a stay at home dad little over a year ago, my wallet is still mad but life is to short for a bad job.
Matthias good luck and enjoy it!

 

[lancexxx]

Here is a fine example, Can you make me a hammer for this for 20.00

 

[dolek]

Congrats on your decision,dead end jobs will eat you up and beat you down mentally and physically... I quit many great jobs through the years,actually they were not great jobs they just paid very well.

Enjoy your new freedom.