Building a Tradition's Tennessee from a Kentucky Kit?

[Frontstuffer070]

I'm thinking of ordering a Traditions Kentucky Kit and turning it into a Tennessee. Since the factory gun is as rare as hens teeth it seems, I figured I would just make one out of a Kentucky Kit. Cutting it down is not a problem. My question is, couldn't I replace the Kentucky stock pin bosses on the barrel with wedge lugs? Then it would just require wedge escutcheons inlet into the stock. The barrel for the Kentucky is not a hooked breech like a wedge setup should be. So maybe the breech plug would have to be changed? Another downside is I believe the Tennessee Stock had a nice cheek rest. The Kentucky stock does not. But I guess I can get over that. Am I on track here? What else might I be missing? I think it would be a cool little build. I don't have the heart to go cutting on my trusty Kentucky, I know it's considered junk here by some but not to me.

 

[olskool]

it all sounds unnecessary to me! here is a little rifle i just finished for my wife. it is from a kit, a pedersoli scout carbine. it is short, handy and shoots very good. it is in 45, they make it in flintlock and 32 and 50 cal. they coast a little more than the traditions but what else would you want,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Tumbledown]

Not all wedged barrels had hooked breeches.

Why would you want to cut the barrel down? It's already short for a longrifle at 33", and too short to represent anything before the early 1800s.

The lugs are not big enough for wedge keys. You will have to either enlarge the dovetail slots or cut new ones, which isn't that difficult but just takes careful working.

I've built 3 Kentucky Rifle kits. I found the butts had enough meat on them to bring out a cheek rest while narrowing the butt plate a bit. Here's one example.

Also, another way I modified a kit was to make an early half stock. Yes, there are halfstock kits out there, but they have shorter barrels.

This one was inspired by an early New England example, and has a wood rib and a wedge key, but no hooked breech.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

Thanks for the replies fellas, very beautiful rifles. That scout Carbine may be another rifle to look out for. But, I like the look of the double barrel wedges In the Traditions. Not to mention if I wanna remove the barrel for cleaning its a cinch. As far as historically accurate, I don't really care about it representing anything but the rifle I want it to resemble, a Tradition's Tennessee.

 

[Tumbledown]

Thanks for the replies fellas, very beautiful rifles. That scout Carbine may be another rifle to look out for. But, I like the look of the double barrel wedges In the Traditions. Not to mention if I wanna remove the barrel for cleaning its a cinch. As far as historically accurate, I don't really care about it representing anything but the rifle I want it to resemble, a Tradition's Tennessee.

Sorry, I didn't realize the Traditions Tennessee was only a 24" barrel until I looked it up. I was thinking of the Pennsylvania.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

It's a neat looking little thing, I think. Heck I've even emailed Traditions and told them to bring it back. I mean clearly they sold out of them. But it fell on deaf ears.