Kevin Blevins flintlocks

[stevew]

Anyone have experience with his rifles? They look very nice in the pictures I have seen.

 

[olskool]

yes, i have one. a southern mountain guns in a 40 cal. it is as good as it looks!

 

[Grimord]

I have two of his rifles. A walnut .32, and a maple .36. His work is exceptional, and pricing is fair. Delivery time is usually within 5 months.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I recently had a french styled trade gun made by Kevin. (His Tulle style, thought not marked Tulle.) 20 Gauge jug choked. Large siler left hand lock. The gun is very attractive, and well finished in his "french gray" finish. Wood finish on my walnut stock is smooth and well applied. I recently shot it at 25 yards and got good patterns for turkey. Need to go out further to see the limit.

A few items were not as I expected, but not deal killers. The stock is shorter than I specified. By a half inch. The inletting under the lock was excessive, and filled with some form of filler. The tang inletting was such that as I have shot it (less than twenty rounds shot or ball to date) there is a chip out of the stock behind the tang. I hope it does not grow. I also asked that the front sight be set back 4-5 inches. That did not happen. And the front sight is slightly off center to the right, causing the gun to shoot left with round balls. Once you know that, you just adjust.

Kevin is great to talk to and deal with. I learned a great deal during our discussions and would consider him someone I would like to sit down and have a drink with. He is honest and trustworthy, and a gentleman.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[olskool]

Grimord one of yours is a twin to mine,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[stevew]

Beautiful rifles!

 

[Adkarcher]

Mine will probably be ready this weekend. I ordered a .54 cal Southern Mountain style rifle. I have some in the progress pics, but will have completed pics later on.

 

[Grimord]

View attachment 69138View attachment 69139
Grimord one of yours is a twin to mine,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

It sure looks like mine. Maybe the wood came from the same tree.

 

[olskool]

Kevin told me the wood came from a tree in his mama's yard. but not sure if it did or not. most of his rifles has the same kind of wood that looks exactly the same. he is a good rifle builder but he also spins yarn on the side.

 

[Grimord]

Kevin is an exceptional flint lock shooter. He has won many matches at Friendship. He knows what makes a good flint lock shoot.

 

[stevew]

do you know how long of a wait he has to get one of his rifles?

 

[Herd48]

do you know how long of a wait he has to get one of his rifles?

I think 5 months is pretty accurate. I have one of his southern rifles in 40. Accurate. Good rifle.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

5 months is an exceptionally short lead time for a custom builder these days. Very nice.

 

[Adkarcher]

My wait has been literally like 6 weeks, but I believe this was a stock he pretty had ready to go from a while ago and just had not used yet. When I first spoke with him, he had a .50 cal he was currently working on that would have been ready a month later. Wasn't quite what I wanted, so ended up ordering one instead. At times, he one for sale on Contemporary Longrifle association, but they seem to go quick...

 

[Max Bowers]

Nothing but the highest praise for Kevin’s work. I own a .36 SMR and a .54 transitional rifle he he built. Both are flinters, both have rice barrels and both shoot way better than I do. I killed at nice 9 point buck at 60 yards with the .54. Very solid work, very solid guns, unbelievable wood in both stocks. I own 7 flintlocks and these, by far, are my best and they will be heirlooms. American made by American hands with American parts. I will buy another from Kevin in due course.

 

[Rawhide67]

I have one of his southern rifles in 40 cal. I'm the second owner. Shoots well, inletting is precise, the gun is slim and handy. I have no complaints.

 

[Adkarcher]

Got the word today, my rifle is complete.

 

[Stubert]

The stock is to short, the tang is chipped, the sight is on crooked, the inletting is bad and filled with putty, and You say He's a good builder?

 

[Kid Shelleen]

Here we go again. Seventeen polite and civil exchanges contemplating the skill, merit, and integrity of a particular craftsman and someone tries to make it a rugby scrum. Yeah! Let's turn this into a bashing thread! Nothing but accolades until one gun turns up with some legitimate issues and one member says "let's go back three days & dwell on the negative". ADK, I totally agree with you. Your assessment of the experience you relate is fair and constructive to the conversation and you presented it quite well. Thank you. Kevin is a very prolific builder, kind of like the Beatles churning out albums in the sixties. As I remember not every song was a hit on "Sargent Pepper". I'm not making any excuses. ADK, it is my impression that you are obviously disappointed but still find the gun acceptable. Is this correct? Have you mentioned anything to Kevin? I certainly understand your position and sympathize. Considering what I know, my take is this; Kevin builds a quality practical working man's gun and no matter how simple, makes it look beautiful. He offers it at a price that I feel is more than fair. I don't see many other guns going at Kevin's price point with the caliber of wood that he uses. And he delivers a custom gun in less than 6 months. I see a lot of very positives & only one negative when I look back over this thread.

 

[Kid Shelleen]

OK, with that being said, here's mine. I had been contemplating a French fusil for a few years when I caught a thumbnail of a gun Kevin had built a few years earlier. I asked him to copy it but with my specs. 5 months later I got exactly what I asked for. A simple fusil that I think looks fantastic and functions flawlessly. I could not be more pleased.
Post reply