Art, I firmly believe Jim Kibler can make whatever firearm he takes a notion to and hit it out of the park on the first pitch.
Yes, of course, but the engineering, planning, study, set-up, and marketing to do a limited, niche musket? Not at all feasible financially. The few enactors that want one can just buy the one from the Dixie catalog, and leave Jim to mfg. something that has a bit of demand!Art, I firmly believe Jim Kibler can make whatever firearm he takes a notion to and hit it out of the park on the first pitch.
He can't to make a copy of every small-demand musket or rifle that every cotton-pickin' guy thinks up....he's a very small operation, and offers already, kits heads and shoulders above what the traditional companies have always offered; stocks that need a huge amount of work to look good, and which are too complex for the average guy that's not a dedicated builder. Sourcing such a lock would alone force the cost way above a reasonable price point.First I think their a neat gun. Do I think Jim would do a kit ? No and the same reason he won't make his SMR percussion. HE doesn't want to..! Even though he would have a lot of buyer's. JMPO
Good grief, I have no connection with Mr. Kibler whatsoever; I'm just a person interested in the muzzleloading field, and enjoy this site particularly. Common sense tells you that, in today's world, producing such a specialized item for a tiny number of potential buyers is not possible.Well, Art, you must have an inside line speaking for Jim as you do.
Of course I realize such a project would have to pencil out, and I have no idea what the demand for it would be, but I also believe that if such a kit were available and it dawned on American muzzleloader shooters what a significant role the miquelet-lock escopeta played in this continent's history, new interest would arise. Again, it's a matter of raising awareness and frankly, doing basic education. And I believe that enthusiasm would grow once shooters got a chance to see and handle one of these arms in person and learn its capabilities.
I don't find an escopeta with miquelet lock on the Dixie Web site -- just an overpriced Pedersoli copy of the .69 flintlock Spanish musket.
HE can make or not make whatever he wishes; if a tiny group of guys want a Spanish Musket, have one of the India-made distributors dun the factories in India for one. Or, start your own website dedicated to the subject, and gin up enough interest to generate demand; it would be a useless quest, in my opinion, but then I'm nobody, just sayin'.He can't to make a copy of every small-demand musket or rifle that every cotton-pickin' guy thinks up....he's a very small operation, and offers already, kits heads and shoulders above what the traditional companies have always offered; stocks that need a huge amount of work to look good, and which are too complex for the average guy that's not a dedicated builder. Sourcing such a lock would alone force the cost way above a reasonable price point.
Jim has stated in his videos that his interest is in English based smoothbores.Art, I firmly believe Jim Kibler can make whatever firearm he takes a notion to and hit it out of the park on the first pitch.
Kibler seems to be making classical American smooth bores and rifles; once you get into the Military Arms, it's a whole 'nother ball game, and that includes the guys who want them; re-enactors, etc., it's simply a different market. The best way would be what BillinOregon said, Indian houses, Loyalist, etc. If there's a real demand, (theoretically), get a hundred guys to front a thousand dollars apiece up front in a legal account, and say to a supplier, we got a hundred grand proving demand. Then if it gets turned down, return the money! Simple. I realize this is theory only, but how difficult would it be to just simply re-enact with the current Dixie/Pedersoli musket? It's just a hobby, past-time, fun historical re-enacting, after all. (I re-enacted Rev War for ten years and didn't once give a hoot about the shape of some tiny part on my Jap musket!) (Joke; next some guy will want a copy of the multi-barrel gun Jim Bowie used in John Wayne's 'Alamo', and will demanding Kibler make them, too! Joke only!Songwriter, I have a hunch that once awakened, there would be a sizable audience interested in escopetas in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California and possibly Florida.
Art, it might make sense to "dun" some of the Indian houses on the subject or ask Loyalist or Charles at Veteran Arms to help with the cause. But a Kibler would be done right out of the gate.
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