Colonial rifle build for authenticity

[Brianl1620]

After years and years of research, and documentation on the American Colonial Rifle, And this is only for the builders who want their rifles to look the same as they did when purchased new back in 1760-1770. This is not for builders who try to replicate 100s of years of patina. #1 barrel and lock left in the white. Browning these parts didn’t come about till the beginning of the 19th century, although there is very rare instances where gunsmiths experimented in this new procedure but It didn’t become mainstream till beginning of 1800. Bluing was available but not as common as just in the white.
#2 Brass was bright and shiny. Brass was very expensive back then, and it was very well taken care of #1 by the gunsmith who wanted to show off their work, #2 the owners who wanted to protect their investment. Again this is not for the builder wanting 100s of years of patina on their rifle, but more for a builder wanting their rifle to look like it did when bought new in that time period.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Wow- those years and years of research, and documentation on the American Colonial Rifle have produced a great Kibler kit rifle!

 

[Brianl1620]

Wow- those years and years of research, and documentation on the American Colonial Rifle have produced a great Kibler kit rifle!

Thank you, not my years and years of research, but others over the years, that’s out there for the reading. I posted my rifle before on here in another thread, just wanted to use it again in this post for the finishing aspect part.

 

[deerstalkert]

beautiful gun!

 

[Brianl1620]

beautiful gun!

Thanks

 

[Daveboone]

I am finishing the stock /final fitting everything on my Kilber Colonial. I have have browning solution, but am still up in the air on using it. I have an 1863 mfg original Springfield which has held up for damn close to 160 years without any rust problems in the white, no reason this puppy shouldnt hold up just as well, My only hesitation is that of course the Springfields barrel is much more easily pulled for maintenance than the pinned Colonial. Your rifle looks so darn good though, ....and like yours, mine is a working mans gun with no ornamentation...I may have made my decision.

 

[Steve R.]

I am finishing the stock /final fitting everything on my Kilber Colonial. I have have browning solution, but am still up in the air on using it. I have an 1863 mfg original Springfield which has held up for damn close to 160 years without any rust problems in the white, no reason this puppy shouldnt hold up just as well, My only hesitation is that of course the Springfields barrel is much more easily pulled for maintenance than the pinned Colonial. Your rifle looks so darn good though, ....and like yours, mine is a working mans gun with no ornamentation...I may have made my decision.

Can someone please tell me at what point in history did the riffled barrel become common place and take over the smooth bore being the norm ?

 

[Brianl1620]

I am finishing the stock /final fitting everything on my Kilber Colonial. I have have browning solution, but am still up in the air on using it. I have an 1863 mfg original Springfield which has held up for damn close to 160 years without any rust problems in the white, no reason this puppy shouldnt hold up just as well, My only hesitation is that of course the Springfields barrel is much more easily pulled for maintenance than the pinned Colonial. Your rifle looks so darn good though, ....and like yours, mine is a working mans gun with no ornamentation...I may have made my decision.

Yep mines got no carving or ornamentation either, just the barrel and lock in the white, and the brass polished, oh and Kiblers brass patch box cover plate installed.

 

[Brianl1620]

Can someone please tell me at what point in history did the riffled barrel become common place and take over the smooth bore being the norm ?

I’m not 100% sure but I believe Americans realized this during the revolution, I’m sure many more were available after the revolution and more common

 

[DuncNZ]

Rifling was invented about 1440 , The first American made rifles were made in approximately 1740 by German gunsmiths in Lancaster county , when the Revolution came along gunsmiths moved from making rifles to smooth bore firearms because they were quicker and cheaper to make than rifles .

 

[moose23]

Nice job on that rifle Brian!

 

[Brianl1620]

Nice job on that rifle Brian!

Thanks man

 

[Ballshooter]

Damn you guys, and the kibler colonial longrifles...I am just going to have to order one..I am torn between the .54 and .58. I have both calibers and love them both but for some reason I keep giving my .54 extra love because it shoots so sweet....ugggggggg decision lol

 

[Ballshooter]

P.S. I would probably brown the barrel and lock and age the brass.

 

[Daveboone]

As excited as I am to complete my Colonial, I have to admit that if it wasnt for the increased weight with a smaller bore I would probably prefer a .50, or even a .45. I already have two .54s, thats how they were eliminated.

 

[Jim Evans]

After years and years of research, and documentation on the American Colonial Rifle, And this is only for the builders who want their rifles to look the same as they did when purchased new back in 1760-1770. This is not for builders who try to replicate 100s of years of patina. #1 barrel and lock left in the white. Browning these parts didn’t come about till the beginning of the 19th century, although there is very rare instances where gunsmiths experimented in this new procedure but It didn’t become mainstream till beginning of 1800. Bluing was available but not as common as just in the white.
#2 Brass was bright and shiny. Brass was very expensive back then, and it was very well taken care of #1 by the gunsmith who wanted to show off their work, #2 the owners who wanted to protect their investment. Again this is not for the builder wanting 100s of years of patina on their rifle, but more for a builder wanting their rifle to look like it did when bought new in that time period.

That's a great looking rifle you have there.
One question ,during your research ,did you find what was the most common stock wood ?

 

[Brianl1620]

That's a great looking rifle you have there.
One question ,during your research ,did you find what was the most common stock wood ?

thanks, no I didn’t do much research on wood because it varied in location of the gunsmith I believe and what was available or suitable. I do know maple was used a lot

 

[JamesT]

Nice rifle. How did they get the brass to a mirror polished finish like that?

 

[Brianl1620]

Nice rifle. How did they get the brass to a mirror polished finish like that?

Thank you, yes they had emery paper back then for polishing. Article from 1754 , and 1755 mentions it, along with other various compounds and materials for polishing. Paul Revere was quite the expert on it back then.

 

[Daveboone]

If I recall, actually dried shark skin was a very common abrasive.