I, like so many others, have completed my first Kibler. It's a Woodsrunner 54 in fancy maple. I'd like to thank Mr. Kibler for his work bringing these affordable and fantastic kits to market.
Now realistically it took about 3 hours to assemble it ramrod and all. The lengthy 13 month bit about this project was choosing the various finishes and changes of plans based on results. The stock was mostly scraped and burnished followed by brushing to reveal the grain as much as the figure. Iron nitrate was chosen and boy did that come out as a surprise. The tried and true oil turned the stock so dark...amazing. This resulted in my choosing other than in the white and bright for the metal. The barrel draw filed nicely and the lock did take quite a bit of time to scrape and file the mill marks out as did the CNC butt plate. Laurel Mnt brown worked great on the barrel but the lock didn't like it as much so BC plum brown fixed that. Jax Black applied to the brass work after polish and soda blast for a sort of matte finish...much more durable than Jax on a polished surface.
Part of that 13 months was dealing with little things like dings or chips in places that were unacceptable or even breaking the stock in half! Yes you heard that right. One session while separating the stock from barrel the stock snapped in half right in front of the rear pipe. I've kept this pinned together to mitigate stock warping as it was want to do but yes the very last time before browning was disastrous. The stock has been repaired with titebond and the crack is not visible but I know its there. So be careful even when you think your being careful!
It is now done. And as of yet unfired. I hope the stock crack remains sound under recoil. I have no plans to sell this considering the stock. What surprises me are the amount of people building these just to turn around and sell. I would be holding on to them....
Now realistically it took about 3 hours to assemble it ramrod and all. The lengthy 13 month bit about this project was choosing the various finishes and changes of plans based on results. The stock was mostly scraped and burnished followed by brushing to reveal the grain as much as the figure. Iron nitrate was chosen and boy did that come out as a surprise. The tried and true oil turned the stock so dark...amazing. This resulted in my choosing other than in the white and bright for the metal. The barrel draw filed nicely and the lock did take quite a bit of time to scrape and file the mill marks out as did the CNC butt plate. Laurel Mnt brown worked great on the barrel but the lock didn't like it as much so BC plum brown fixed that. Jax Black applied to the brass work after polish and soda blast for a sort of matte finish...much more durable than Jax on a polished surface.
Part of that 13 months was dealing with little things like dings or chips in places that were unacceptable or even breaking the stock in half! Yes you heard that right. One session while separating the stock from barrel the stock snapped in half right in front of the rear pipe. I've kept this pinned together to mitigate stock warping as it was want to do but yes the very last time before browning was disastrous. The stock has been repaired with titebond and the crack is not visible but I know its there. So be careful even when you think your being careful!
It is now done. And as of yet unfired. I hope the stock crack remains sound under recoil. I have no plans to sell this considering the stock. What surprises me are the amount of people building these just to turn around and sell. I would be holding on to them....
