From Gun-Free Household to Hunting and Gunsmithing

"From the moment I pulled the trigger on a shotgun for the first time I knew that this was something I wanted to get involved with." 

Working on guns came with the hobby of hunting that began when I was eighteen years old. 

Surprisingly, I grew up in a gun-free household. I didn't even hold a firearm for the first time until I was eighteen when I was invited to go shoot with a friend of mine. 

That fall I took the mandatory Iowa hunter's safety course and subsequently bought my first gun, a Remington 870 Super-Mag. I used that shotgun for everything from squirrel and pheasant hunting to deer hunting with a slug barrel. 

I still own that gun and ensure to take it out each hunting season at least once. 

Getting Started in Gunsmithing

"By the end of the year, I found myself looking at different gunsmithing schools."

My first experience with working on a gun came when I inevitably had to clean my 870 for the first time. Always being interested with how things work I couldn't resist taking it all the way apart. It was definitely more of a struggle putting it back together the first time, but after many hours it was functioning again.

This continued on for several years and grew as I acquired more guns.

When the fever dream that was 2020 came around, I decided that I needed to do more to ensure I was capable of taking care of my young family and keeping them safe.

Therefore, I bought my first AR-15 in April of 2020 amongst the absolutely sparing shelves of the local gun stores. Inevitably I couldn't let it be as it was and began customizing it to be the exact gun I wanted. I was hooked. I knew I wanted to do this type of work more.

Pursuing Gunsmith Education and Starting a Business

"On November 28, 2022 Tapos Gunsmithing, LLC finally began operation."

By the end of the year, I found myself looking at different gunsmithing schools.

I enrolled in the Sonoran Desert Institute's Associate of Science in Firearms Technology degree program in February 2021. By the time graduation rolled around in January 2022 I had earned several accolades including Dean's List, Magna Cum Laude, and an overall GPA of 3.98.

There was a large vacuum in my area for gunsmiths. Many of the older generation that had served my area for years had either retired or moved on to the great range in the sky. Iowa gunsmiths were getting harder to find. I knew I could fill that void. 

In June 2022 the governor of Iowa signed a piece of legislation into law that forced the city of Davenport to allow myself and others wishing to operate out of their homes to obtain their own FFL and engage in firearms related business.

On November 28, 2022 Tapos Gunsmithing, LLC finally began operation.

Building a Customer Base

"I am sincerely thankful to everyone that has helped make this dream and reality."

Since then, I have completed several projects for customers, many coming back with more projects for me to complete.

I am sincerely thankful to everyone that has helped make this dream a reality and look forward to helping all of my future customers with every need that they have.