Kit Ravenshear's booklets?

[Norskie]

Are Kit Ravenshear's booklets on gunbuilding a good place to start for someone who has done minor gunsmithing, built a couple muzzleloaders from kits and wants to start a scratch build on a plain southern mountain style? I don't want to steer my friend wrong. Ravenshear had a good reputation, back in the 70s-80s, but I've never looked at his books.
The fellow has my Shumway book, and I need to find him a substitute.
Any opinions?

 

Kit's booklets are pretty basic, and skimpy (drawings, not photo's to illustrate). I would recommend "The gunsmith of grenville county" It covers just about everything. Bill

 

[George F.]

Yes it's true his booklets are pretty skimpy, but someone can always pick something up in them, and they're pretty cheap. For someone interested in building for the first time from the "square" Green ville county builders book is an excellent choice. Plus they're some video's available which fits with "a picture is worth a thousand woeds"( I mean words! ). I am deeply sorry Mr. John Bivins is no longer with us, he was in the process of writing a book that would of been the benchmark or holy grail of builders books. But I'm sure other people will step up to the plate, if they haven't already...................George F.

 

:thumbsup: Get Peter Alexanders book, it's expensive but cant be beat, I understand he has a vidio out too. The Gunsmith of Grenville co.

 

[Zonie]

The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle by Chuck Dixon, Dave Miller and Dave Ehrig (Dixon Muzzleloading Shop Inc.) is a moderatly priced book that covers building from A to Z.
It is available from Dixie Gunworks, Track of the Wolf and Muzzleloder Builders Supply.
Last time I looked it was about $20.

 

[thehorn]

The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle by Chuck Dixon, Dave Miller and Dave Ehrig (Dixon Muzzleloading Shop Inc.) is a moderatly priced book that covers building from A to Z.
It is available from Dixie Gunworks, Track of the Wolf and Muzzleloder Builders Supply.
Last time I looked it was about $20.

Zonie's right. But, call Chuck Dixon direct and have him sign his book for you. Great book with a wealth of info. Chuck's a true ambassador of traditional muzzleloading.
Dixon's Muzzleloading Shop

 

[CrackStock]

Track of the Wolf carries several of Kit's booklets. I got "Simplified V Springs" recently and am quite pleased with it. The price is very reasonable.

He taught a friend of mine to make springs many years ago and I wanted his book for that reason.

CS

 

[CoyoteJoe]

The neat thing about Kit's books is that you can buy just what you need at the moment. If you just want to make a spring you can buy just that one booklet for about four bucks. If you end up buying them all you will have invested the price of a much glossier book but it doesn't hurt so much in little bites, and his tips are very practical for the home craftsman with little equippment.

 

Don't get me wrong guys, I have all of Kit's booklets, and they're great. It's just that for a beggining builder, they might create as many questions, as answers. Although that's what this Forum is for, isn't it. :rotf: Bill