From a builders viewpoint cont.

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

We've discussed Jim Chambers and Pecatonica kits - in your experience, who else offers similar quality kits other that Track of the Wolf?

 

Don Stith makes some very fine Hawken kits of different styles if your so inclined. Best on the market in my opinion, as far as quality of parts and historic accuracy. He makes the only pre-1840 Hawken on the market as far as I know. :winking:

 

[CrackStock]

I have a TVM that I like and I have heard Tip Curtis mentioned, but I do not have one of his yet.

CS

 

[jdixon]

Can't comment on the quality of kits, don't have that level of experience yet. Can comment on the return of Mr. Johnson - good to see ya' back around the campfire mate!

 

[Vaino]

Seeing the topic is " From a Builder's Viewpoint", I normally build from "scratch" and occasionally assemble a kit. Have used kits from Chambers, Pecatonica and Stith and really have no complaints w/ any of them and all will stand behind their product. What kit is purchased really is determined by what style MLer is desired and if this particular style is offered by more than one supplier, then a choice would have to be made based on how many parts are inlet, quality of furniture and lock, barrel brand, grades of wood and finally price. Warning...these so called "kits" do require some expertise w/ tools, somewhat of an eye for esthetics and some background on what a particular MLer should look like. There's plenty of wood on these "kit" stocks to either make a "club" or w/ judicious wood removal, a MLer comparable to those of some of the "past masters". These "kits",if competently assembled, won't have any "hint" that the completed MLers started off as such. There are many excellent "how to" books and at least one should be thoroughly studied before a "kit" is purchased. Good luck....Fred

 

[DrTimboone]

If you might be looking for a Southern Rifle from as early as the mid 1750s I suggest you not overlook the kits that Curt Lyles has put on the market. [url] http://www.cdlyles.com/[/url] he gas a few very nice precarve paterns and will customize your kit in terms of inletting, barrels, locks etc and even hand forges iron parts if thats wht you want....

Tim

 

[Hoyt]

Of the 3 guns I've put together two were from Pecatonica and I was well pleased all the way around. One had Getz barrel and one Rice..both Chamber's locks. The way I did my last gun is the way I like best. I decided what school gun I wanted, looked around and found someone who had a stock duplicator and the pattern I wanted. Bought a stock blank and a barrel had them shipped to Fred Miller and got him to inlet the swamped octagon to round barrel and duplicate a Henry Mauger stock. Then I shopped around and bought the other components from wherever I wanted, inletted them and finished shaping and carving the stock to how I wanted it.
Next time I will either just get the barrel inletted in a blank..which will be another octagon to round because I like light barrels...or either inlet it myself. Then use one of my guns as a pattern (since I got a Bucks and Berk's already and like those schools best} and shape the stock myself.
I'm just not sure I can handle a swamped octagon to round barrel inletting.

 

[John Vaccaro]

Chambers, and Dunlap Wood Craft, are the best "kits" in my opinion. I think Getz used to offer a "kit" as well. John