Mark Wilkinson
Graduate of Pennsylvania Gunsmith School
In 2012, I was stationed at McChord Air Force Base. That year defined who I was to become as a person. It was my first duty station, my first time living alone, the year I became a U.S. Citizen and the year I bought my first gun. Fast forward to 2013; By this point, I had built up a small collection of guns and some knowledge. It was also in 2013 that I deployed for the first time and had to be away from my collection. Naturally I resorted to watching gun videos on YouTube to gain more knowledge and gather opinions. I could not wait to get back home and make modifications and upgrades to my treasured collection. But one thing clicked in me after passing so much time watching so many gun reviews; “I want to make guns better” I drew up several concepts that I planned on making but had no knowledge or means to do so. I then looked up several gunsmith schools and after comparing schools, I decided that the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School was going to be my Alma Mater.
Fast Forward to 2017. I had completed my enlistment in the Air Force. I was a new student at PGS and the GI Bill was covering my tuition and living expenses. I worked part-time for extra money but for the most part, I was completely free and ready to learn and experiment with the gunsmithing craft. From the very beginning, my classmates and I were taught the importance of knowing how to fabricate by hand. We then moved on to metal refinishing followed by heat treatment, wood stock making, machining, welding, custom gun building, business practices and several other courses accompanied by industry wide certifications and very informative, straight forward reading material. Another course was Social Media Management which helped me overcome my lack of interest in online self-promotion. Because of PGS’s encouragement, I now have a platform on YouTube & Instagram where I have been able to interact with several big names in the firearms industry.
Being an Alumnus of PGS has become my proudest achievement. I graduated with Honors, a scholarship and recognition from the American Pistolsmith Guild for my custom 1911 project. I made several friends and colleagues who I can call on and share information with at any time. I also know that if I ever need any further assistance, the staff at the Pennsylvania School will be willing to help. My time at PGS has pushed my abilities and imagination to new heights and there is still a lot more to come, both from me and my fellow innovative PGS Gunsmiths.