Is the Woodsrunner that easy?

[Phil Coffins]

Most will tell you about the grace and beauty of these rifles and the incredible machine work. But are they really that good? Here’s what you might expect when you get one.
First thing I did was draw file the barrel, just started the mill marks must go on my rifles, aabout five minutes per flat.
IMG_1000 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr
Then removing the extra wood in the inlets. Another five minutes and a toothpick size pile of chips!
IMG_1001 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr
The brass parts need filed before sanding. Nail sanding boards are useful.
IMG_1005 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr
Yep these are easy!

 

[TDM]

Your going to be spoiled now Phil! I find the nail/emory boards very handy too.

 

[HSmithTX]

Barrel finish is nice, side cutting with an endmill over that length without support isn't exactly easy to get a finish that fine.

The triggerguard looks like a casting, but I understood (could be dead wrong) that it was CNC'd, are they machining the stock side only? It would make sense....

 

[Phil Coffins]

The guard, thimbles and entry pipe is cast and the part that touch the wood is finished, the outside is as cast. But plate is machined but not finished. The wood is so finely machined I started with 230 grit and then whiskered with a touch of color and 320 grit to finish. I’ll whisker then do 400 grit just before finial stain and oil. Sites when in after cleaning the castings with a flat file, didn’t need to file the slots at all. Ever thing has lined up with no adjustments at all. This one is way easier than the Colonial that I thought was embarrassing to say I built, assembled and finished only! This is the cheapest kit pound for pound on the market.

 

[Bnewberry]

Your experience echos mine.

 

[akroguy]

The guard, thimbles and entry pipe is cast and the part that touch the wood is finished, the outside is as cast. But plate is machined but not finished. The wood is so finely machined I started with 230 grit and then whiskered with a touch of color and 320 grit to finish. I’ll whisker then do 400 grit just before finial stain and oil. Sites when in after cleaning the castings with a flat file, didn’t need to file the slots at all. Ever thing has lined up with no adjustments at all. This one is way easier than the Colonial that I thought was embarrassing to say I built, assembled and finished only! This is the cheapest kit pound for pound on the market.

Spot on, pardner. This kit is just barely shy of being an "in the white" level of finish. After my past two builds from various parts kits and stocks of unknown origin, (that had issues but super curly wood made up for it), this Woodsrunner seriously is on another level completely. It's a blank canvas for carving or inlays and all the hard work; the stress-inducing measuring, breeching, drilling, inletting, just not an issue here. It's a ready to shoot rifle short of just a few evenings of finishing work.

 

[Greyrider]

I have thought about getting one but don’t know if I want to try one. I am a carpenter by trade and have made about everything but blueing a barrel and a few other things not sore about that.

 

[Bnewberry]

I have thought about getting one but don’t know if I want to try one. I am a carpenter by trade and have made about everything but blueing a barrel and a few other things not sore about that.

The most time consuming part of the build for me was polishing the brass parts. If you can sand wood you can do this. The barrel can be cold blued in 10 minutes with easily available products. You can do this!

 

[BillyC]

I concur, I never built a kit rifle before and my first turned out so well I bought another. Nothing about is difficult, as has been said polishing the metal and sanding the stock are the most time consuming aspects of the build.

 

[Timmit]

I agree, this is the easiest kit to assemble on the market. Well worth the money.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Nice write up. I assembled a Kibler SMR a couple years ago and it was a little more involved than what you described for your WR kit but I still could not call it a "Build". I felt like 95% of the build was done and I was just the guy at the end of the line finishing up the job lol.

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

 

[Phil Coffins]

To make it seem like I’m earning my keep I added a toe plate and will be doing some incised line decorations.
74069D70-7EB9-40CC-8BF0-107105DE006F by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[TDM]

That looks very nice @Phil Coffins

 

[oreclan]

I have thought about getting one but don’t know if I want to try one. I am a carpenter by trade and have made about everything but blueing a barrel and a few other things not sore about that.

Why not try some carving on one then?

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

Phil,
What is the length of pull ? I’ve been thinking about this one and other kit projects.

 

[50calBoone]

Great , I ordered mine in January , It will be my first build . I need an easy one . Cant wait to get it

 

[akroguy]

Phil,
What is the length of pull ? I’ve been thinking about this one and other kit projects.

I'm not Phil but I see on Kibler's website the LOP of the Woodsrunner is 13 7/16".

It is definitely shorter LOP than my Colonial and very lightweight especially in .54 caliber. The Colonial is a hefty rifle but for its size, does not feel muzzle heavy (swamped barrel).

 

[mikesto44]

No offence but every time I here the " I built a Kibler " I crack up...build no, assemble yes... I've helped two people put the SMR kits together. They are the most precise kits out their by far....! Plus you end up with a historically precise gun.... The way Jim has been improving them. His next kit will just pop out of the box and assemble it's self.....lol

 

[waksupi]

No offence but every time I here the " I built a Kibler " I crack up...build no, assemble yes... I've helped two people put the SMR kits together. They are the most precise kits out their by far....! Plus you end up with a historically precise gun.... The way Jim has been improving them. His next kit will just pop out of the box and assemble it's self.....lol

Kind of like saying you built a rifle and call yourself a gunsmith or builder after assembling an AR. Very sore spot for this old wood and steel builder.

 

[TDM]

I prefer the term "Finisher" to "assembler", sounds more 18th century.