Kibler kit gun complete

[GANGGREEN]

I promised a few folks that I'd post photos when I finished my Kibler kit. A few thoughts. I had a really nice piece of maple that I supplied to Jim and I'm perfectly happy with how the stock turned out. I'm also 100% happy with the quality of Jim's work. I'm somewhere between a complete nincompoop and an amateur at this, so I have a habit of making easy tasks look hard and sometimes messing up parts of the build that should have been smooth sailing. I post the photos to show that anyone, even a relative amateur, can end up with a lovely finished rifle from the Kibler kit. It may not be for everyone, but I'll almost surely do another one at some point.

I'm sure that someone will ask, so I'll mention how I finished it. I used one coat of Dangler's reddish brown stain, covered by a coat of LMF nut brown and 2 coats of Permalyn sealer. On the metal parts I used 44/40 which I carded back with a purple scrungy pad to make an antiqued grey look. I think it looks reasonably nice, though others with more skills than I have might have done more with the beautiful kit and the lovely piece of wood. Still, I'm happy with the finished product.

 

[jeremiah ingraham]

That looks great. I really like the finish. So how long did the actual build take minus the staining and finishing of the metal parts? I have been debating on whether or not to jump into building one of these kits. I have only watched a couple of CVA kits being built but I think I could do one these without too much trouble.

 

[GANGGREEN]

That looks great. I really like the finish. So how long did the actual build take minus the staining and finishing of the metal parts? I have been debating on whether or not to jump into building one of these kits. I have only watched a couple of CVA kits being built but I think I could do one these without too much trouble.

It was relatively easy. If you have any experience with tools, it's no big deal. I honestly don't know how many hours I had in it because I'd just run out to the shop for an hour or two when time permitted, but I'd be reasonably certain that it was less than 20 hours including the finishing of wood and metal.

 

[wattlebuster]

Very sharp :thumbsup: I like your finish as it makes the curl pop. Shot it yet?

 

[GANGGREEN]

Very sharp :thumbsup: I like your finish as it makes the curl pop. Shot it yet?

Nope. I didn't previously have a .40, so I had to order some balls. This week with any luck.

 

[Ames]

Great lookin gun for sure.

 

[GANGGREEN]

I thought I should add a photo of the tang because it's so unique.

 

[MSW]

great looking rifle! now you have me lusting after a .32 ...

 

[Brokennock]

That came out great. You should be proud.

Now I'm hoping even more that he comes out with a kit for a style without the deep crescent butt plate, that's available in a .36 caliber.

 

[jeremiah ingraham]

O.K. thanks. I think I just need to get my other projects done so I can justify spending the money on another one. Maybe I should order a kit so I have some extra motivation to get them done. It sounds like I could get one done in less than 2 weeks.

 

[GANGGREEN]

That came out great. You should be proud.

Now I'm hoping even more that he comes out with a kit for a style without the deep crescent butt plate, that's available in a .36 caliber.

Personally, I'm hoping for an Isaac Haines or similar in a large caliber or maybe even a .62 fowler. I doubt that he's in an enormous hurry to add styles, but he says maybe in the future.

 

[kaintuck]

VERY nice job! :bow:
I would like a muzzle cap piece.....chevron type poured pewter would do I believe :hmm:

I have a 32 man rifle, but IF I didn't :surrender: :surrender: :grin:

Good job.....you AND Jim!!!

Marc n tomtom

 

[GANGGREEN]

VERY nice job! :bow:
I would like a muzzle cap piece.....chevron type poured pewter would do I believe :hmm:

I have a 32 man rifle, but IF I didn't :surrender: :surrender: :grin:

Good job.....you AND Jim!!!

Marc n tomtom

Yeah, the poured pewter chevron cap would be sweet on this rifle. Maybe I'll try to attend Jim's class next year and order another in .45 caliber, then I'll do a few embellishments.

 

[nit wit]

GG:
You did a fine job, you are going to love it. .40 is great on deer!
Nit Wit

 

[GANGGREEN]

GG:
You did a fine job, you are going to love it. .40 is great on deer!
Nit Wit

It's not legal for deer in my home state, but I'm relatively sure that I'm going to enjoy it just the same. Thanks.

 

[excess650]

It's not legal for deer in my home state, but I'm relatively sure that I'm going to enjoy it just the same. Thanks.

How about some black squirrels?

 

[GANGGREEN]

It's not legal for deer in my home state, but I'm relatively sure that I'm going to enjoy it just the same. Thanks.

How about some black squirrels?

Yes, it's legal for them. :grin:

 

[talkingamoeba]

That came out great. You should be proud.

Now I'm hoping even more that he comes out with a kit for a style without the deep crescent butt plate, that's available in a .36 caliber.

Personally, I'm hoping for an Isaac Haines or similar in a large caliber or maybe even a .62 fowler. I doubt that he's in an enormous hurry to add styles, but he says maybe in the future.

There is, I think, a great deal of potential in offering other styles, as there are people who want a good reliable kit flintlock, but don't want to do a regular 'build.' It is no small feat to take on the logistics of that I'm sure, but I see the potential for people to end up with really reliable flintlocks as opposed to the manufactured guns. I've said it elsewhere, but I'll say it again- you did a great job with your gun.

 

[GANGGREEN]

That came out great. You should be proud.

Now I'm hoping even more that he comes out with a kit for a style without the deep crescent butt plate, that's available in a .36 caliber.

Personally, I'm hoping for an Isaac Haines or similar in a large caliber or maybe even a .62 fowler. I doubt that he's in an enormous hurry to add styles, but he says maybe in the future.

There is, I think, a great deal of potential in offering other styles, as there are people who want a good reliable kit flintlock, but don't want to do a regular 'build.' It is no small feat to take on the logistics of that I'm sure, but I see the potential for people to end up with really reliable flintlocks as opposed to the manufactured guns. I've said it elsewhere, but I'll say it again- you did a great job with your gun.

Thanks, and you're right. For a bit more than your average Pedersoli or TC, you'd get a gun with tight tolerances, a fine barrel, triggers and lock. In other words, basically the best option available today for the price point and it's not overwhelming for a beginner to think about taking this job on.

 

[bjmac]

I guess that it's my browser or something, but I can't see the pictures.
Why not use tinypics.com and post them directly to the forum?
Or am I missing something that is obvious to all but me? :hmm: