Best US Made Kentucky Rifle?

[Critter Getter]

Good morning. New member here. I'm looking for a Kentucky rifle, US made with US parts. I'm willing to pay for quality, but within reason. In your opinions, who makes the best US rifle? I don't have the time or resources to build my own, and have wanted one for years. Any expertise you can send my way would be greatly appreciated. I'd prefer flintlock but would also consider percussion. I appreciate your time and cooperation. Thank you!

Cabin Creek or Tip Curtis are two names that come to mind. I own both and they are very nice. Greg

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

You can take a look at the selection here as well to see what you might like. I have a Late Lancaster from here.

http://www.tennesseevalleymuzzleloading.com/

This is not a site I would use to illustrate historically correct examples. Lets keep in mind the OP is searching for "THE BEST USA MADE KY", not the best generic in the USA.

 

[Longrifle NH]

Hi and thank you all for your time, cooperation, knowledge and expertise. Is anyone familiar with Kevin Blevins and Phoenix Mountain Flintlocks? I found him on The Contemporary Longrifle Association. Price is reasonable as well as delivery time. Thanks again!

 

[Firelock937]

Hi and thank you all for your time, cooperation, knowledge and expertise. Is anyone familiar with Kevin Blevins and Phoenix Mountain Flintlocks? I found him on The Contemporary Longrifle Association. Price is reasonable as well as delivery time. Thanks again!

I had him build a 16ga fowler for me, and couldn't be more pleased with it. I had actually only seen a handful of rifles he had built and had for sale at an event at Fort Randolph in WV, and based on how good they looked I ordered a fowler. He was very easy to work with and came up pretty much exactly what I wanted just by describing it to him in a couple of conversations. Price was quite reasonable. I first talked to him in I believe April 2017, and had the gun in my hands right before Thanksgiving that year.

 

[8 BORE]

I had him build a 16ga fowler for me, and couldn't be more pleased with it. I had actually only seen a handful of rifles he had built and had for sale at an event at Fort Randolph in WV, and based on how good they looked I ordered a fowler. He was very easy to work with and came up pretty much exactly what I wanted just by describing it to him in a couple of conversations. Price was quite reasonable. I first talked to him in I believe April 2017, and had the gun in my hands right before Thanksgiving that year.
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A lot of same pictures

 

[Firelock937]

A lot of same pictures

First time I ever posted pics. Kinda got out of hand

 

[8 BORE]

The camera kinda went full auto

 

[FishDFly]

https://www.longrifle.com/artisans-works/

The above will have a lot of rifles and you do not have to wait to have one built.

 

[smo]

Another vote for Tip Curtis, you can’t beat his selection or prices, and no wait time .

His shop is in Tennessee, but he does have one at Friendship In. too. He is there for both the Spring and Fall shoots.

 

[WRustyLane]

Another vote for Tip Curtis, you can’t beat his selection or prices, and no wait time .

His shop is in Tennessee, but he does have one at Friendship In. too. He is there for both the Spring and Fall shoots.

Where at in Tennessee is he located? I live in eastern Tennessee and would like to see some of what he has to offer. Thanks

 

[smo]

Mr.Tips shop is located in Cross Plains Tn , which is just North of Nashville.
He is just off I-65 too the West a mile or so.

Give him a call before going, he works by himself and is in and out.

Tip Curtis Frontier Shop 615-654-4445.

Tip offers a very nice gun at a great price, without the wait!

 

[dave_person]

Best Kentucky rifles made in the US? My choices would be Allen Martin, Jim Kibler, Mike Brooks, Ed Wenger, Tom Curran, Eric von Aschwege, Mark Silver, Hershel House, Bill Shipman, and Ian Pratt. If your objective is the best under $2000 then some of the choices mentioned like Tip Curtis are probably good bets. The very best readily available bargains today for a very high quality and correctly styled gun are the kits offered by Jim Kibler. For the money, they are hard to beat.

dave

 

[Critter Getter]

Best Kentucky rifles made in the US? My choices would be Allen Martin, Jim Kibler, Mike Brooks, Ed Wenger, Tom Curran, Eric von Aschwege, Mark Silver, Hershel House, Bill Shipman, and Ian Pratt. If your objective is the best under $2000 then some of the choices mentioned like Tip Curtis are probably good bets. The very best readily available bargains today for a very high quality and correctly styled gun are the kits offered by Jim Kibler. For the money, they are hard to beat.

dave

I would say Dave hit the nail on the head with his answer! Best of the best in my book..........but have you seen the pics posted of Dave's builds? Stunning!!! Greg

 

[Grenadier1758]

I would add Mike Miller to that list. I am sure that there are many other builders than we have listed.

 

[EC121]

Another option is to buy a used rifle. Shop around and have your money ready. I bought this .60cal. stalking rifle built by Jerry Scales and engraved all over(even the trigger plate and buttplate screws) by John Schippers for $2000. I don't think it was shot a whole lot. The frizzen is hardly scratched. No 3yr. wait for this one. It will be my hog rifle.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

STUNNING!

 

[azmntman]

Too nice to hunt!

 

[M. De Land]

Beautiful rifle, the wood grain and color is my favorite part of the whole package.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Beautiful rifle, the wood grain and color is my favorite part of the whole package.

It's maple, and a very nice piece of wood.

 

[EC121]

It has some well done repairs. I believe they were done during the build. Wood with that much curl is like cheap plastic. It is really brittle. Probably broke while he was working on it. If you look at the tang picture, you can see the lines on each side of the tang. It also splintered out and was repaired along the foreend were the wood rolls into the barrel. Probably broke while he was thinning the wood along the barrel channel. In keeping with the European style of not wasting wood, there is even a small knot back by the butt plate.