How many muzzleloaders have you built

[user 31257]

Zero. I’ve bought 2 kits but chickened out and sold both of them without doing a thing on them.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I don't remember how many I've built. Quite a few, 15 or 20 maybe, mostly scratch builds. What I do know is that I've never built one that has been perfect after I pondered it for awhile after it was done. There's always been a little detail or two that I wish I had done differently. The last two are approaching perfection though. Which just means that I haven't found the defects yet.

 

[Rob M.]

.... Just neat pics of some of my scratch builds . Fun stuff ...

 

[deerstalkert]

i think i may catch on to this if i keep at it.
from plank to this in just 100 hours!
still about a half cord o wood to turn into rasp dust!

 

[tenngun]

I’m 66 and been playing in this since seventeen
Counting them up sounds a tad like a life review
I’m counting eighteen, maybe some ones I’m not thinking of

Ah yes came up with seven I didn’t think of, so twenty five

 

[Reds]

Did a kit for an uncle back in early nineties and he liked it so much he would show all people walking past his house. Well evidently one he showed it to liked it so much they broke in and he never saw it again! Ha he is an idiot though just thought y’all could appreciate one Uncle Bob story!! There are hundreds!!! I did resurrect a Cva Mountain Stalker that was my dads and am currently doing an old CVA Kentucky .45cal that I finally acquired all parts for even a new unbelief barrel. Also have an Ardesa that really needs complete overhaul but that’s last on my list. Then on to my dream rifle, a Kibler SMR in .36 I almost bought the one that just sold here on the classifieds but decided as much as I liked it I’d love it if I built it, so that’s me!!!

 

[th1840]

I counted 15/16 I think, 35 year break due to life but 6 in the works right now both flintlocks and pistols

 

[Spikebuck]

Seven, but since the Kibler isn't really a "build" but more like an "assembly and finish" it's six. Two Chambers kits on the bench now: colonial pistol in .54 and a Lil' Fella kit for my wife that I'm working into a representative Berks incorporating features from RCA #22 and #28. Have had to set aside several of the kit parts and buy or make replacements to make it a Berks!

As a side note, I'm fortunate to own rifles from some top builders including Dave Person, Larry Williams, and Mike Brooks #288 that has the most beautiful piece of wood I've ever seen. My skills are feeble compared to these guys, but I have sold all my builds except the Kibler, which is my small game rifle.

Picture is Brooks #288. Mike...no one has ever been able to tell me what created that figure and I can't find online pictures of maple with figure like that. I've guessed crotch wood, but would love to know, if you remember that one.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

It's stump wood. One of the most stunning I have stocked a gun around. I don't believe the lid is my work. Was that a .69 rifle? I did a big .69 in that kind of wood too.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

My first gun was from parts from Dixon's gun shop back in the earlier 70's to build a Bedford Co. style rifle in .32 cal., I had George Deck, local builder change the lock to percussion, poor flintlock. Next gun was a Chambers, jaeger style, forget the caliber, next was again a Chamber's Haine's style in .50 cal. I then built a .50 cal. J.P.Beck style .50 cal. brass barrel pistol, which I still have, can't imagine how that happened! Next on the list came the Kibler kits, 2 colonial style in .54 cal. and one SMR in .45 cal., last gun is a 20 gouge Chamber's English fowler.

 

[deerstalkert]

Seven, but since the Kibler isn't really a "build" but more like an "assembly and finish" it's six. Two Chambers kits on the bench now: colonial pistol in .54 and a Lil' Fella kit for my wife that I'm working into a representative Berks incorporating features from RCA #22 and #28. Have had to set aside several of the kit parts and buy or make replacements to make it a Berks!

As a side note, I'm fortunate to own rifles from some top builders including Dave Person, Larry Williams, and Mike Brooks #288 that has the most beautiful piece of wood I've ever seen. My skills are feeble compared to these guys, but I have sold all my builds except the Kibler, which is my small game rifle.

Picture is Brooks #288. Mike...no one has ever been able to tell me what created that figure and I can't find online pictures of maple with figure like that. I've guessed crotch wood, but would love to know, if you remember that one.
View attachment 262964

It's stump wood. One of the most stunning I have stocked a gun around. I don't believe the lid is my work. Was that a .69 rifle? I did a big .69 in that kind of wood too.

I love striped maple, but that is stunningly beautiful!

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I love striped maple, but that is stunningly beautiful!

You guys wouldn't believe how hard that wood was.

 

[James Kibler]

Dick Miller wood?

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Dick Miller wood?

Yes. I have one more piece left.

 

[DementedMindOfJac]

Just curious how many muzzle loaders have you hobbyist builders have made? For the non-professionals among you...do you keep all your pieces? Sell or give some away? Have a large collection after many decades at it?

What? Do you know how close to the edge you are right now? You are on the road to having racks line the walls, two plastic garbage cans in the corner of your man-cave, one full of stocks, one barrels. Cigar boxes with parts on every flat surface... turn back. There's still time...

 

[gray fox]

You guys wouldn't believe how hard that wood was.

 

[gray fox]

You are so right! That is what I used years ago to make shooting BP target rifles.
I am over 80 and closing down my cabinet shop and am breaking out a large lumber supply before giving all stationary tools to one of my sons . Yesterday I found four boards of walnut, each 12' long by 8" wide by 2-3 inch thick. This lumber was given to me from a relative of the person who harvested in 1904. I see several gun stocks waiting to be released. A new catalogue was just ordered from Dixie gun works. Not sure if this will be possible at my age.

Ken.

 

[DementedMindOfJac]

You guys wouldn't believe how hard that wood was.

Now where do we go from here, ma'am?

 

[MSW]

well, the first was for my wife, then a scratch built, then a bunch of tinkering with Thompson Center parts - more or less a frankenbuild, then three from Kibler ... probably a colonal fowler later on ...

Hi, my name is Matt and i'm a flint addict... (i see myself standing on the little stage in the church basement

 

[Patched]

I’ve built 7 scratch guns and about 4or 5 of those poorly machine inletted “kit” guns…sometimes I re-examine my first scratch build, and swear I’m gonna redo it right on a gorgeous unique curly maple stock I bought dirt cheap…but my first gun is a symphony of mistakes and “don’ts” that has had great influence on every gun that followed it…it’s pretty pathetic, overweight, chunky but it does shoot well.