First flintlock kit

[Elliottrob1]

So awhile ago I did an impulse but of my first black powder revolver. It was a pietta copy of a 1858 new model army. I since then have found out I have a true love for black powder. A few weeks ago one of the member from my church and range invited me to go on a flintlock woods walk. Now mind you I don't own any bp rifles so he let me borrow one of his. Had such a wonderful time so I decided to ask for contributions for my own kit. Decided on one.

Just wondering what you guys think of the kit. It's a track of the wolf. Isaac haines left handed lancaster. Options I had chosen was .54 cal swamped match barrel, fancy maple stock, isaac haines brass patch box kit, white lightning touch hole and both labor options that they offer.

Link to the kit http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Cate...PARTS-LIST-FULLY-SHAPED-LEFT/KIT-IHC-XL-FLINT

 

[Zonie]

I hope you understand these "kits" offered by Track of the Wolf, Pecatonica River, Jim Chambers,Muzzleloader Builders Supply, etc are far from a easily built "kit". In fact, they could be more properly called a "box of rough parts".
Absolutely nothing will fit.

The only things that comes close to being finished parts are the lock and the trigger. Even these parts require locating, drilling and threading the holes for the screws that hold the parts to the stock.

The barrel is not finished. It is rifled but the sight dovetails are not cut and on many of them the breechplug is not installed. This applies to the trigger guard, butt plate, side plate too. These are just rough, unfinished sand castings.

All of the parts will need to be inletted into the wooden stock. This applies to the barrel, lock, trigger guard, butt plate, side plate and ramrod thimbles.
Speaking of the stock, even it is just a moderately close roughed out blank which will require a LOT of wood removal to be close to the real longrifles.

Knowledge of metal and wood work is a definite requirement.

Plan on spending a minimum of 120 hours of your time to finish your gun. Actually, for a first build, a number like 180 hours would be closer if you want your gun to be something you can be proud of.

I'm not telling you all of this to discourage you. I just don't want to see anyone go into this with the idea that the gun will be ready for assembly.

Speaking of ready for assembly, Traditions, Lyman and Pedersoli offer kits that are easy to assemble and finish.
These are basically the same guns these companies sell but the parts don't have their finish sanding and finishing done.

These "Big Factory Kits" are indeed, true "kits" with all of the threaded holes located and finished.
They require something like 15-30 hours of your time to finish depending on whether you wish to make modifications like reshaping the stock or installing inlays or wire inlays.

Normally, this sort of discussion would be made in the "Gun Builders' Bench" area of this Forum.
The "Flintlock", "Percussion" etc. areas are more for talking about shooting the guns but with Christmas coming a lot of people might be thinking about getting a "kit" for their loved one to build.

I know you won't believe it, but I've even known a few people who's loved one's include themselves. :grin:

 

[Elliottrob1]

I am well aware of the time and effort in building one ofnthese kits. I have budgeted 4 months to build it. We have a full wood shop here along with a forge. No stranger to wood work or metal work. We do 18th century shows building rakes and most of my time is spent at the gun builders area watching them cut the rifleing. The labor I'm having tow do covers Gunsmithing Labor: mill dovetail & install sight, per operation and install lug staple, or dovetail lug, for key or pin, per operation

 

[Grenadier1758]

Since we don't know your wood working or metal working experience, we want you to have a good experience when you put the finishing touches on your black powder rifle.

One step up from the collection o parts kit such as is offered from Track of the Wolf, is the in-the-white kit. The breech plug is fit to the gun, the stock is fitted to the barrel with the lock installed and trigger guard and butt plate installed. There is still considerable work to be done to get the final stock profile out of the wood that is left. The finish on the barrel is still to be completed to be either blued, browned or left to form a gray patina. The stock will need to be smoothed for your finish which will likely be stained with aqua fortis or a similar stain. The trigger guard and butt plate will require some polishing. Locks and trigger may still need a little bit of final tuning. You will still have the satisfaction of doing the work to make the gun your own.

Vendors such as Tip Curtis or Pecatonica River may have in-the-white guns in their offering. You can specify the barrel to be swamped in the caliber you want and the stock preshaped to the school of a specific builder.

Order one of the books on assembly of the long rifle such as Peter Alexander's "The Gunsmith of Grenville County" to be your guide.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Having access to gun builders and machine shop may make the ToW kit a good way to go. Nothing like a teacher / mentor to be there for you when building your rifle.

Hope to hear that you have finished your rifle and are making good smoke.

 

[rr11]

While the TOW "kit" does require a lot of work, you can build a really nice rifle take your time and research your rifle. Good Luck

 

[irishtoo]

hi, before you buy, look at dixie gun works. in search bar enter...kits. there you will find a LEFThanded flintlock kit. i believe a 50 cal. for about 450.00bucks. that was my first. i have since made each new build a little harder. i am also a lefty. my point is that kit is a starter build. finsh and assemble and your good to go. good luck to you irishtoo

 

[Crewdawg445]

After much research and actually communicating with several members who have built track kits, I purchased one myself. It will be my first build as well. Although I'm not new to front loaders I'll certainly be taking my time to produce a quality piece. I'm assuming as you mentioned, you have the skills and knowledge to build, buy the kit and go for it! The finished results of the track kits I've seen from other members are absolutely gorgeous. I'm a firm believer that with these type of arms, you absolutely get what you pay for. However, the lyman GPR kits are rather nice as I've got a GPR that's sports an L&R lock because the production lock, well leaves ALLOT to be desired! Other than that, I love mine. Yet, for the price you'd be paying for it I would rather upfront the money and buy the tracks kit YOU want and have a ball building it. :thumbsup:

 

[Elliottrob1]

I didn't want a kit where I just stained the stock and bolted on the parts. I wanted one where I really got to know the rifle. Also there seemed to be a pride in everyone's voice who I have talked to where they built a rifle rather than just assembled one. I will be having my father in law help me. It may take me months but I will keep everyone posted

 

[Crewdawg445]

+ 1 my friend, that's exactly how I feel. I did one kit that was a slap o'stain and go, turned out great after much tweaking and fitting parts that definitely didn't fit. Leaves you wanting so much more and something truly to be proud of. I'm very excited about my upcoming build, fitting, sanding, metal work... it's all what makes it special and gives you that connection with your rifle you just can't get from a production kit. I often think people would have a heart attack if our forefathers, boxed up and sold the pieces from there "rifle kits" :wink:

 

[thecapgunkid]

What happened when you looked at a Jim Chambers Kit as opposed to Track?

 

[Crewdawg445]

Chambers didn't offer the exact kit I'm wanting to build. What I'm interested in building is a plane jane barn gun/ poor boy outfit. I didn't feel like spending upwards of a $1,000 for a first build as well. Conversing with others who have built the kit and hearing their first hand experience and seeing the results, it was a solid choice all around. I'd love to build a more ornate rifle as it'll certainly happen, just not a first. I agree that chambers offers top quality kits, with pieces that probably fit better than most offerings. However, IMHO I definitely believe any kit can be made into a very nice rifle. It's all about attention to detail and how much effort one puts into the piece. I'm very excited about my upcoming project, much needed as well! :thumbsup:

 

[Elliottrob1]

With jim chambers kit. It would have been the same price for what I wanted but no listing of weather or not it was a swamped barrel nor any match quality barrels. That paired with the more user friendly of track of the wolf kept me there.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Good thing is all of Jims kits come with swamped barrels, here is the link.
http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles.htm

I to wanted a swamped barrel and was all set to order his lancaster kit... although it just wasn't setting well even though they are fabulous from what I've been told. You won't regret your kit chambers or track from the info I've gathered. I'll end up with one of his for my next build without a doubt. I am however very happy that my track kit does include a Chambers large siler lock. I've got three L&R locks and all are great, yet all have required extensive file work to smooth out the ruff parts. Not something I'll have to do with this new lock. On another note, I did call both companies before I purchased and each said good things about the other. So that's good business either way IMO.

 

[dlgraley]

When TOW says "match quality barrel", are they referring to something other than the standard Rice or Colerain barrels?

 

[Pete G]

I believe that "match quality" refers to the Rice barrels. The Colerain is the standard barrel they most often furnish.

 

[EC121]

The "match quality" is more like 70% user,10% barrel, and 20% fine tuning the load. I'm not sure what they mean. Considering the source it is probably sales talk. These days most all the barrels are match quality. I've been beaten by too many off-the-shelf rifles to worry much about the type of barrel.

 

[Vaino]

I currently buy a lot of components from TOW but in the past, have only ordered one parts set {kit} which I returned because of shoddy stock workmanship. Many buy {kits} from TOW and are satisfied so mine must have been an exception.

Before ordering parts from TOW, I always ask if the parts are in stock....I never back order parts from TOW because on some parts in the past, they were never available. Waiting for the stock is normal and this is a good thing.....a freshly cut precarve shouldn't warp or twist.

Good luck on your build.....Fred

 

[Eric Krewson]

If you really want to know your gun I would build from a plank that has the barrel inlet and ramrod hole drilled. Stock shaping is no mystery if you buy the Track full sized plans.

With your metal and wood working skills, finishing off ruff cast parts and inletting them into the stock will be second nature for you if you take your time.

My first build was from a plank with the barrel and ramrod hole drilled, so was my second. I am doing it all on my third and current build.

It is very rewarding to build a gun from a block of wood and a pile of parts. You also have the bragging rights when someone sees your gun asks where you bought your kit from, you get to say "no kit, I built it from a block of wood and pile of parts"

 

[Snakebite]

I think you'll have a great experience in building your rifle. We'll be looking forward to seeing progress reports and the finished rifle.

Chris