School of Gunsmithing School of Gunsmithing is America’s Oldest Home Study Gunsmith Program The Sonoran Desert Institute offers the oldest home study gunsmthing course in North America. It was started in 1921 in Scottsdale as the School of Gunsmithing and has grown to an internationally recognized school. We changed the name to reflect other programs offered by the school. The school has sponsored numerous rifle and pistol teams and through its knowledge and expertise has helped its teams win many prestigious state and national competitions over the years. The institution is currently owned by Thomas Kube – great grandson of the founder. The program was started by Mr. Kube’s great grandfather at the beginning of the 20th century. Mr. Robert Sally was a field artillery officer in World War I and developed an affinity for personal firearms. While the family was dispersed between New York and New Jersey and Arizona for personal residences, this allowed them to develop the program and put the principles to use in various rifle and pistol matches nationally. Mr. Sally was also a long time member of the NRA and the family still owns one of his early original membership cards – now a rare collectable. Mr. Sally’s 1935 small bore match medals Rare original NRA Membership The school took more of a structured form in the mid 1940’s as Tom’s father, Everett; a navigator on a B-17 flying fortress in the European Theatre of World War II came home and became involved in the program. According to Tom, “it’s really been a family business, influenced by the military and firearms training we’ve received in the service.” Some of Ev Kube’s early competition medals Early matches where our accurized handguns were first proven successful As a result of the schools’ early affinity for soldiers and veterans, the gunsmithing diploma course is approved for Veteran’s benefits and is approved to participate in the DoD DANTES program. If you ask the school’s director, Toni Pino, she’ll tell you, “We really take the extra effort to work with our students, including the service men and women who take our courses. It makes us stand out among other schools. We won’t have you watching a bunch of videos. This program gives you the meat you need to really learn the trade.” Tom began his personal firearms work in the late 1960’s. He won a number of NRA ratings and competitions. For a while, in the mid 1970’s was a Colorado State Patrol officer. He was also an Estes Park, Colorado police officer. As a firearms professional, a gunsmith and an educator, he has helped position the school to be on the cutting edge of firearm repair and customization training. Tom started out very active in the NRA matches Some of the Kube Brother’s affiliations Today, not counting firearms in military service, there are more than 200 million firearms in circulation in the United States. This presents a great opportunity for an individual to establish a lucrative career and work in a career they will really enjoy. From around the world, the Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) in Scottsdale, Arizona trains soldiers, police officers, professionals and hobbyists in the science of gunsmithing. Although, not thought of as a “mainstream” career field, gunsmiths earn from $56,000 on up, and custom gunsmiths much higher. And, the Sonoran Desert Institute has distinguished graduates, a number of whom began their studies in the field as line soldiers while on TDY. According to SDI president Thomas Kube, “we have soldiers enrolled in our program all over the globe. Many are in combat locations in Afghanistan and Iraq and are using their down time to really get ahead.” Students can receive their lessons through correspondence, CD’s and the internet, depending upon their location and need. Student services are available 24 hours a day. More Family Trophies School of Gunsmithing Team trophy where accurized 1911’s were used In order to demonstrate the rigor and completeness of the curriculum, the Institute is licensed by the state of Arizona and is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council. The course is supported by experienced instructors and trained gunsmiths. The course covers; fundamentals of gunsmithing, setting up your professional shop, troubleshooting firearms, sights, custom barrels and trigger work, gunstocks, refinishing, reloading and starting your own business. The course is perfect for anyone looking to start an entry-level gunsmithing career or just enhance their firearms acumen. Senior managers of the school are amateur gunsmiths and have been active in construction and the trades for many years. Additionally, the owners of the school serve on state and national organization boards that help establish regulation and policy in this growing career field. Some of Great Grand Dad’s last competitions Dad’s last medals before retiring