Brownells® Gunsmiths Teach “Bluing and Metal Finishing” Class at Trinidad State College
Class part of the NRA Summer Gunsmithing Schools Program
Looking to learn more about metal preparation and finishing from nationally-known gunsmiths, students at Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado spent a week with Dean Batchelder and Dave Bennetts of Brownells, the world’s largest distributor of gunsmithing supplies, parts and accessories.
The men traveled more than 925 miles to teach the class, but both said the experience was worth the travel as it allowed them to get closer to many of the same gunsmithing issues they help their customers solve every day as a function of their jobs in the technical services department at Montezuma, Iowa-based Brownells. Teaching the Trinidad State students allowed them to solve problems and interact person-to-person with people they’d usually serve by phone, or over e-mail.
“I learned a lot from the students,” said Batchelder. “Things they said helped me to better understand what our customers want to know.”
Bennetts and Batchelder led students through a five-day course that included comprehensive instruction on metal preparation and polishing using both manual and mechanical methods, as well as how to perform a number of metal finishing techniques, including hot bluing, Parkerizing, rust bluing, Nitre bluing, as well as the application of spray-on and bake-on finishes.
“Without Brownells, this place wouldn’t function the way it functions,” said Patrick Blake, Associate Dean of Career and Technical Education, and Director of NRA Programs at Trinidad State Junior College. “So when we decided to take our metal preparation and finishing program to the next level, we approached Brownells about having Dean and Dave lead the classes. They did such a great job that we’re already planning adding an extra day to the course next year. An overwhelming number of the students said they’d gladly come to class on Saturday in order to get extra hands-on time in the shop with Dean and Dave.”
“We are honored to have Dave and Dean teach in the NRA program at Trinidad State,” said Brownells vice president Pete Brownell. “The art of metal preparation and finishing is one that is dear to us at Brownells. My grandfather Bob started Brownells in-part to help ensure the availability of quality gun finishing products. Today, we continue to take particular pride in the expertise our gunsmiths have in the area of firearms finishes.”
With a background as a former Marine and more than seventeen years of experience as a professional gunsmith and stockmaker, Bennetts is an expert in both metal and wood finishing and restoration. He joined the technical services team at Brownells 2 ½ years ago.
A graduate of the Colorado School of Trades, as well as the Smith & Wesson and Colt armorer’s schools, Batchelder worked as a gunsmith for a number of years, including his own shop in the Indianapolis area, prior to joining the Brownells technical services team in 2001.
The Bluing and Metal Finishing class is one in a series of more than 25 gunsmithing and gun-related courses Trinidad State is offering in 2005 as part of the NRA Summer Gunsmithing, Law Enforcement and Armorer Schools program. Recognized as one of the premier gunsmithing school in America, the Trinidad State program has been providing individuals with the training necessary to operate as a professional gunsmith since 1947. Visit http://www.trinidadstate.edu for more information on the school’s gunsmithing program.
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of factory gun parts, gunsmithing tools, equipment and firearms accessories. Since 1939, Brownells has been serving gunsmiths and firearms enthusiasts with the products they need to repair, protect and accessorize their firearms. Today, the company stocks more than 32,000 items, and its long-familiar horizontal-format catalog is known to shooters and gunsmiths worldwide as being uniquely Brownells. Products can be ordered by toll-free phone, fax, or through the company’s Website. For more information, call 800-741-0015, Dept. #PBY, or visit brownells.com.