Jim Chambers kits

[Pilgrim]

If this isn't the correct group, I apologize in advance and ask for direction.

Does anyone have experience with a Jim Chambers kit? I am planning a purchase around January and would like a contemporary smoothbore with some historical style to North Carolina/Virginia/Tennessee. Jim offers some of these and I live within driving distance of his shop. I don't hear a lot about his kits, that's why I am asking.

 

[rafterob]

They provide top quality parts. A number of members of our club have built very fine rifles from Chambers kits. Plan on taking your time to get the best result, like 3 months.

 

[Pilgrim]

They provide top quality parts. A number of members of our club have built very fine rifles from Chambers kits. Plan on taking your time to get the best result, like 3 months.

Are you a member of the NMLRA affiliated club outside of Asheville?

 

[BJHabermehl]

Jim Chambers kits are the best kits I’ve put together. They require more fitting skills than the Kibler kits but are more easily customized. I’ve put a number of them together for customers. Chambers locks are the standard that all the rest of the locks in the hobby are measured. BJH

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Listen to BJ. Chambers kits are excellent but they can require a bit of work. They are not snap together like the Kiblers come close to. I am sure Barbie Chambers will provide you a good kit.

dave

 

[rodinal220]

Jim Chambers "kits" are GTG. Not a weekend project. Very high quality. Jim makes a lot of parts for other vendors in the industry. Take your time and you will be rewarded.

Kit rifle question | Page 2 | The Muzzleloading Forum

 

[Pilgrim]

Hi,
Listen to BJ. Chambers kits are excellent but they can require a bit of work. They are not snap together like the Kiblers come close to. I am sure Barbie Chambers will provide you a good kit.

dave

Could you share a little more detail about the extra work? I can do inletting, final fitting of areas, finish metal for bluing and some cold forging. I’m not very experienced with carving but can do basic lines. I’m not wanting anyone to tell me what to get. I’m interest in chambers because it isn’t like kiblers and I’m sure Jim Kibler makes an impressive kit, too many people swear by it.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

You can take a look at my build thread to get an idea:
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/my-next-build-jim-chambers-pa-fowler.133414/

 

[Pilgrim]

You can take a look at my build thread to get an idea:
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/my-next-build-jim-chambers-pa-fowler.133414/

Thanks, that helps a lot.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Here:
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/building-a-chambers-isaac-haines-rifle-kit.116533/
and here:
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/building-a-chambers-little-fellas-rifle.110688/
dave

 

[BJHabermehl]

Depending on which Chambers kit you choose you will need to do soldering operations, drilling and tapping, precision drilling of pin holes, final inletting, and tweaking of various relationships. Plus all the normal file and finish work. About all these operations have been covered on this forum or the ALR website. Any questions Barbie Chambers would be happy to help you with. BJH

 

[satwel]

I built the Chambers English Fowler/Officer's fusil and I am very pleased with the finished product. The components are first rate. One of the best kits I have put together. Carefully read BJH's excellent description (above) of the various operations required to build the kit. It is spot on. At the time I built mine, I had a moderate amount of experience with all of those steps. I would not recommend it to a beginner.

 

[BJHabermehl]

Depending on which Chambers kit you choose you will need to do soldering operations, drilling and tapping, precision drilling of pin holes, final inletting, and tweaking of various relationships. Plus all the normal file and finish work. About all these operations have been covered on this forum or the ALR website. Any questions Barbie Chambers would be happy to help you with. BJH

Depending on which Chambers kit you choose you will need to do soldering operations, drilling and tapping, precision drilling of pin holes, final inletting, and tweaking of various relationships. Plus all the normal file and finish work. About all these operations have been covered on this forum or the ALR website. Any questions Barbie Chambers would be happy to help you with. BJH

Gun building requires elements of several skill sets. My earliest mentor Bill Kennedy likened it to speaking multiple languages. Basically the language of wood working and metal working. I liken it to eating a multi course meal. One bite at a time. Each bite is one operation. Usually about two or three hours work. Each operation must be executed well for a good final result. It’s really not that difficult if you have some hand skills. Sharpening tools is probably the first thing to learn. BJH

 

[Pilgrim]

I built the Chambers English Fowler/Officer's fusil and I am very pleased with the finished product. The components are first rate. One of the best kits I have put together. Carefully read BJH's excellent description (above) of the various operations required to build the kit. It is spot on. At the time I built mine, I had a moderate amount of experience with all of those steps. I would not recommend it to a beginner.

Thank you much appreciated

 

[Vaino]

I've built 2 Chambers' early Lancaster parts sets.....they're not simple "kits". Encountered a few mistakes as rec'd but all were repairable. The locks and hardware were excellent. Learned a lot from the 2 parts sets...both from the actual building and what a Lancaster stock should look like. Plenty of wood for carving and I made a brass Pbox

If you want to learn how to build a LR, buy a Chambers but if you just want a LR, buy a Kibler. .....Fred

 

[Pilgrim]

I've built 2 Chambers' early Lancaster parts sets.....they're not simple "kits". Encountered a few mistakes as rec'd but all were repairable. The locks and hardware were excellent. Learned a lot from the 2 parts sets...both from the actual building and what a Lancaster stock should look like. Plenty of wood for carving and I made a brass Pbox

If you want to learn how to build a LR, buy a Chambers but if you just want a LR, buy a Kibler. .....FredView attachment 105809

Thank you, the feedback from this group is amazing. yall are helping me decide what to buy based on the depth and breadth of my skill level.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I have a strange outlook on Kibler kits; I have built 4 other guns from planks and precarves, as a rank beginner I had a lot of learning to do.

When I put together my Kibler SMR I almost felt guilty for having such a fine rifle with so little work involved.

This is after tearing my hair out for up to 2 years trying to build my first from a plank and my last from a severely flawed precarve that I could have built 3 guns from a plank in the time it took me to correct all the flaws in this precarve.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have a strange outlook on Kibler kits; I have built 4 other guns from planks and precarves, as a rank beginner I had a lot of learning to do.

When I put together my Kibler SMR I almost felt guilty for having such a fine rifle with so little work involved.

This is after tearing my hair out for up to 2 years trying to build my first from a plank and my last from a severely flawed precarve that I could have built 3 guns from a plank in the time it took me to correct all the flaws in this precarve.

A great testimony for the Kibler kits.

 

[Buckskinn]

I can highly recommend Chambers kits. I've built two and have a fowler patiently waiting for my attention. Prior to these I had zero experience with building a gun and really knew nothing about flintlocks and still know very little. A very large chunk of knowledge came from this website from Dave Person and others.

Top is first kit, 58 cal Edward Marshal, bottom is 40 cal York. Plenty of things I could have done better and not even close to some here that are truly expert builders, but very happy with how they turned out and shoot. They were extremely rewarding projects from start to finish.

Go for it!

 

[SmokepoleSam]

I can't see the pictures.