Crews Custom Gunsmithing

Crew's Custom Gunsmithing isn't a retail shop or a quick-fix armorer service. This is serious gunsmithing work—the kind that requires genuine expertise across multiple disciplines.

Owner John Crews trained at Colorado School of Trades (CST) in Lakewood, Colorado, one of the nationally recognized gunsmithing schools that teaches the foundational principles of how firearms actually work. That matters. Most gunsmiths specialize in one narrow area. Crews studied the full spectrum: hand tool work, metal polishing, carving, checkering, stock making, machine tool operation, welding, and—critically—the design and function section where you learn actual diagnosis and repair.

Beyond formal gunsmithing education, Crews has completed armorer training through multiple manufacturers:

• •Smith & Wesson armorer certification
• •Ruger armorer certification
• •Glock armorer certification
• •SigArms armorer certification
• •Remington armorer certification

This matters because factory armorer classes teach the techniques manufacturers developed for their own firearms, the exact specifications and tolerances they design to, and the theory behind each design decision. It's the difference between someone who can tinker with a gun and someone who understands why it works the way it does.

Gunsmiths do work that armorers can't touch. While armorers are trained to return firearms to factory specifications, gunsmiths perform:

• •High-level repairs: Returning well-used, abused, or neglected firearms to like-new condition
• •Refinishing: Complete metal and wood restoration
• •Custom modifications: Changes to stocks and metal parts to fit a shooter or improve efficiency
• •Fabrication: Creating obsolete parts from raw metal when they're no longer available
• •Specialized disciplines: Work requiring machinist skills, woodworking, woodcarving, engraving expertise

Contact: - Phone/Text: (208) 920-0985 - Email: [email protected] - Online ticketing available at website

Crows addresses this directly in his writing: A good gunsmith will be honest about what he can and can't do. When he can't deliver quality work on a specific request, he'll tell you why. A gunsmith who constantly promises more than he can deliver will lose more customers than he gains.

Before bringing your gun to any smith, ask about: - Where and when they learned their trade - References from previous customers - Examples of similar work they've completed - Why they chose their particular training path

On a target or hunting gun, mistakes cost money. On a personal defense gun, the stakes are much higher.

Crows has written extensively about how gunsmiths actually learn the trade—because not all gunsmithing training is equal:

• •Apprenticeship — The traditional path. Learning directly from a master gunsmith over many years. Crews started this way before attending formal gunsmithing school.

• •Gunsmithing Schools — Most comprehensive training available. The better schools teach principles of firearms function so you can diagnose problems by understanding how each part interrelates. Hands-on experience varies significantly between in-person and distance learning programs.

• •Armorer Training — Manufacturer or military-sponsored. Teaches how to work on specific firearms only and return them to factory specs. Narrow focus, but deep expertise in particular platforms.

• •Kitchen Table Mechanics — Learning through reading, watching, and experimenting without formal instruction. Can work out fine for hobbyists but lacks the structured foundation and proper tooling that prevents costly mistakes.

Crows values the combination: formal gunsmithing school education + hands-on apprenticeship experience + manufacturer-specific armorer certifications.

The @GunPoint Blog covers practical topics for gun owners: - How to identify qualified gunsmiths vs. unqualified ones - Firearms safety for children (comprehensive Eddie Eagle guidance) - Proper care and storage of firearms - Winchester Model 61 history and mechanics - Broader essays on firearm safety and responsibility

This isn't marketing content—it's educational material for people who actually own and use guns.

"When you choose a gunsmith, it is up to you to check his qualifications. There are qualified, semi-qualified and not-so-qualified gunsmiths. Most gunsmiths tend to specialize in one area and may not be at all qualified in another." — John Crews

Crows Custom operates a referral program for customers who want to send friends their way.