Army Veteran Brings AGI Master Certification to San Antonio Gunsmithing

3rd Cavalry Veteran Opens FFL Gunsmith Shop in San Antonio With AGI Master Credentials

Live Oak, United States – May 2, 2026 / RTF3TX Gunsmithing /

RTF3TX Gunsmithing, the Live Oak, Texas-based firearms service operation founded by U.S. Army veteran Roland Lamothe, has formally announced the launch of its full-service gunsmithing practice under Federal Firearms License (FFL) authorization, positioning the shop as a licensed, standards-driven resource for law enforcement agencies, veterans, and civilian gun owners across the San Antonio metropolitan area.

A Veteran’s Discipline Applied to Civilian Gunsmithing

Lamothe served with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment of the U.S. Army before transitioning into the firearms industry. Rather than treating gunsmithing as a trade learned on the job, he pursued formal credentialing through the American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI), earning the organization’s Master Gunsmith designation – a distinction that requires demonstrated competency across multiple firearm platforms, safety protocols, and technical repair disciplines.

The decision to seek formal certification was deliberate. As an AGI certified gunsmith San Antonio operators can verify through credentialing records, Lamothe built RTF3TX on the premise that professional accountability matters as much as technical skill. The shop operates under NSTF safety standards gunsmith guidelines, which set specific benchmarks for safe handling, repair documentation, and operational conduct within a licensed facility.

RTF3TX holds a current Federal Firearms License, a legal requirement for any business engaged in the manufacture, transfer, or servicing of firearms at a commercial level. That licensing status places the operation under federal compliance obligations that unregulated or informal gunsmiths do not face.

Clear Position on Ghost Guns and Unregulated Builds

One of the more deliberate aspects of RTF3TX’s public launch is its formal articulation of a ghost gun policy Texas gun owners and law enforcement professionals can reference directly. Ghost guns – unserialized firearms assembled outside of licensed manufacturing channels – have drawn scrutiny from federal regulators and local law enforcement agencies in recent years.

RTF3TX does not service, accept, or facilitate work on unserialized or illegally assembled firearms. Lamothe structured that position into the shop’s operating policy from the outset, not in response to external pressure, but as a reflection of the standards he maintained during military service.

“When I built RTF3TX, I made the decision that this shop would operate the same way I operated in uniform – with clear rules of engagement and no gray areas,” said Roland Lamothe, Founder and Master Gunsmith of RTF3TX Gunsmithing. “The AGI Master Certification took years of documented work across more than 12 firearm platforms. That credential exists so clients – whether they are law enforcement or a first-time gun owner – know exactly who they are handing their firearm to.”

Serving Law Enforcement, Veterans, and Responsible Owners

RTF3TX’s client base reflects the range of firearms users operating in and around San Antonio, one of the largest military and law enforcement population centers in Texas. The shop provides services including diagnostic inspections, trigger work, barrel fitting, stock modifications, and compliance-related assessments for duty weapons.

Law enforcement personnel represent a specific segment of the shop’s clientele. Service weapons require documented maintenance histories and must meet department specifications after any gunsmith work. RTF3TX’s FFL status and adherence to NSTF safety standards gunsmith protocols support that documentation chain.

Veterans are another core community the shop serves. Many returning service members arrive with deep familiarity with military-pattern rifles and seek civilian gunsmiths who understand those platforms without requiring extensive explanation. Lamothe’s background with the 3rd Cavalry provides that context directly.

RTF3TX and the Broader Standard for Licensed Gunsmithing

The formal launch of RTF3TX arrives at a moment when regulatory scrutiny of unlicensed firearms work is increasing at both state and federal levels. Texas has seen ongoing legislative and law enforcement attention directed at unregulated firearm modifications and assembly. Against that backdrop, the shop’s FFL compliance, its documented ghost gun policy Texas law enforcement agencies can reference, and Lamothe’s status as an AGI certified gunsmith San Antonio area residents can verify represent a measurable standard rather than a marketing claim.

RTF3TX Gunsmithing is located in Live Oak, Texas, within the San Antonio metropolitan area. The operation accepts appointments from individual gun owners, veterans organizations, and law enforcement personnel requiring documented gunsmith services on personally owned and duty firearms.

About RTF3TX Gunsmithing

RTF3TX Gunsmithing is a veteran-owned, FFL-licensed gunsmithing operation based in Live Oak, Texas, founded by Roland Lamothe, a former 3rd Cavalry U.S. Army soldier and AGI Master Certified Gunsmith. The shop provides firearms inspection, repair, and modification services to law enforcement professionals, military veterans, and civilian gun owners in the San Antonio area. RTF3TX operates under NSTF safety standards and maintains a formal policy declining service on unserialized or illegally assembled firearms.

Learn more at RTF3TX Gunsmithing