Kibler Woodsrunner Assembly Progress

[Bnewberry]

I am in the early stages of assembling my Woodsrunner. I am no expert so this is no guide, just me sharing my experiences building this kit.

My kit was evidently one of the first 25 kits to be shipped. Jim Kibler posted that he did a partial assembly on the first 25 as a quality check. This means that my Woodsrunner came with the buttplate and ramrod thimbles installed.

 

[Bnewberry]

I did a test fit but didn’t take a picture at the time so here it is a bit later in the process.

 

[Bnewberry]

I draw filed the barrel, cold blued it and buffed it to a dark gray. I know there are some who decry “antiquing” a new rifle, I get it. But it is my rifle so I get to do it as I want to. I don’t want it antiqued, but I do want it to be used and useable. I am also testing out the finish process. I am not sure I will leave the finish as is. I may want to go a bit beyond the draw filed finish but that can be done later.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Looks like you should be able to save It!
What grade of wood?

 

[Campbell]

Dang! Looks nice! Looking forward to it!

 

[garypl]

Looks like the patch box lid is sticking out pretty far past the buttplate. Or is it just the angle in the picture?

 

[Bnewberry]

Next is polishing the brass. Jim Kibler has gone to great lengths to make this kit even easier to put together than any other. One big change is the CNC buttplate. It is made to tighter tolerances than an as cast piece can be. This means little or no fitting. I don’t know if he did any fitting on my stock for the buttplate. It doesn’t look like it. The CNC machining marks are not very deep, but the brass is hard enough to warrant a file, followed by various grits of sandpaper.

 

[Bnewberry]

Looks like the patch box lid is sticking out pretty far past the buttplate. Or is it just the angle in the picture?

I have it on loose because it is a little sticky. It fits very nicely but will benefit from a bit of sanding.

 

[Bnewberry]

Since my ramrod thimbles came installed I have to remove them for clean up and finishing. Thankfully the pins were left long. Here I ran into some white knuckle moments. These pins are tight! The forearm wood is thin! I had to use pliers and a block of wood to remove them. The holes for the barrel pins are even tighter. I suspect they are pilot holes and not final dimension. I am carefully drilling bringing them to 1/16th and polishing the pins. I don’t mind if the thimble pins are snug, but I will probably need to enlarge them too so I am able to insert the shortened pin in place without worrying that I will get it partially installed and stuck…unable to get it out!

That is it so far, more as I have time to proceed!

 

[Bnewberry]

Looks like you should be able to save It!
What grade of wood?

Fancy maple.

 

[Greg_E]

Yup, it is yours and you get to make it how you want it! I have a nickel plate Traditions that most will probably hate, but I like it. Shiny finish on the stock too!

 

[TDM]

Looking good @Bnewberry !

 

[Trapper Scott]

Looks like its going to be a beaut. Enjoy the build and keep us posted.

 

[Greg_E]

How are you going to finish the stock? Going to use ferric nitrate for stain? Going to add tannic acid to make it darker or black?

 

[Bnewberry]

Ferric nitrate but no tannic acid. I want a medium dark color.

 

[Trapper Scott]

Ferric nitrate but no tannic acid. I want a medium dark color.

I'm taking notes for when I get my Woods Runner in the spring.

 

[Bnewberry]

I'm taking notes for when I get my Woods Runner in the spring.

Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes!

 

[Trapper Scott]

Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes!

Yours is coming along nicely.

 

[david w]

It's amazing how much work Kibler puts into their kits. It's a far cry from when I built a Full stock Hawken from a Pecatonica stock. The hardest part on the Pecatonica is the butt plate. I have to say, Kibler is worth the money. His locks are hard to beat, too.

 

[Greg_E]

I tried tannic acid on a beech stock, the only really dark parts were the end grain which came out black after the ferric nitrate. The rest looks ok so probably not going to use extra tannin unless I want black (going forward). Finishing with truoil on mine, lots of coats, lots is sanding, lots more coats. 1500 grit paper with water and soap seems too fine right now, 800 seems too course. I'll see how it looks tomorrow after the fresh coat has hardened a bit.