Kit Rifle v/s Custom Gun

[Robbo]

Gentlemen

I am new around here so forgive me if this topic has been done to death in the past.

But I am thinking about either buying a completed PA Longrifle or buy a kit to assemble myself. I would be interested in your thoughts on which approach may be best.

So far as kits go, what is the general opinion of Track of gthe Wolf Kits?

So far as a good maker goes for a made up gun, any recommendations? I hear the guy from Gobbler's Knob is OK. Any views?

All help gratefully received.

Best Wishes

Robbo

 

[Will Bison]

The Track kits are good but I have trouble changing light bulbs so gun building is out for me. Also consider the cost of shipping, US to AU won't be cheap.

A semi-custom gun would be my choice. I'd be talking to some other shooters in your area of NSW. Some of these small time guys are good but you have to do some digging. With a flint gun, it's all in the lock and you may want to order a lock from the US. I have in mind Jim Chambers.

I don't know what you had in mind for price but for AU 2,000$ or less you should be able to get a very nice rifle.

 

[Tommy Bruce]

Robbo, Welcome and I hope you're hungry because you just dumped the whole can of worms. :grin: :grin: Before you decide on a builder or a components set, Determine what kind of rifle you want. I'd also contact a few builders and discuss what you want. There are several on this board who make a beautiful gun. As someone who is a novice builder and lover of flintlocks. I can give the following advice. Components sets aren't easy. They require time and effort to produce a quality product. If you are mechanically inclined or have someone experienced to help go for it. If you are planning on buying only one gun I'd recomend going with a builder. Plan on spending at least 1500-2000.00 as a starting point. You may want to go higher. Also plan on waiting for a year and a half or longer. I've found from experience that guys who promise a gun in 3 months are most of the time are either brand new or lying to get some money. If a guy tells you upfront it will be 2 years at least he's telling you upfront instead of getting your hopes up. Most builders also require a deposite up front often to pay for parts. Either that or they will ask that you supply the lock, stock and barrel. Whatever you decide buy a quality barrel, a good lock and a solid peice of wood. I'm currently building my 3rd gun (2nd from a blank) and will have close to 600.00 in parts alone. This isn't counting stain, sandpaper and tools that I've purchased along the way. I'm also having a gun built buy an experienced builder simply because I can't build what I want yet but I'm still practicing. As far as kits go, Most on the board will recomend Jim Chambers. They are a little more money but He makes a fine product. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

 

[blacksmithman64]

Robbo, welcome to the forum! I am building a TOTW lancaster kit right now, I dont much care for the brass castings,a lot of air pockets and the buttplate is scrap right out of the box.I have built Golden Age Arms kits in the past,excellent quality,good price, but they closed shop Jim Chambers is well known and makes a fine product as does R.E.Davis and Siler. L&R has too many quality control issues for me.Thats about my experience!Have you considered buying off the classifieds here? Lot of nice firearms listed!

 

[LRB]

You might give thought to going about this "inbetween". Buy a custom "in the white", and finish it out. In the white guns often cost only a couple hundred over the price of the parts, and still leave room for you to finish it your way.

 

[RiverRat]

I would go with a Chambers kit and you can have the kit shipped directly to a builder that Jim Chambers recommends. I had Mark Wheland build my Chambers kit and I am very happy with the finished rifle. It is a 28ga smooth rifle :grin:

 

[john armstrong]

If you just want one rifle buy a custom rifle. If you like to tinker and have alot of time, woodworking and metal (including engraving) skills go for the kit gun. But, be warned that building quickly becomes an addiction. As your skills improve you look for a harder challenge. My first rifle was a JP Beck Track of the wolf kit. $800 with a swamped barrel. No engraving necessary with a wood patch box. I have since built about 5 in the two yrs. since my addiction started. Now I carve them. My latest is being carved from an intersting piece of fire wood (cherry). Good luck and have fun.

 

[Zonie]

If you decide to build from a "box of parts" like TOTW sells, you might also want to check out Pecatonica River Long Rifle Supply Co's kits.

The owner, **** Greensides supplies the stocks to TOTW and he sells the same kind of kits but his prices are usually a little bit less because he is dealing directly with you. A link to his company is in the Resources section of our Forum.

With reguard to Stumblin Wolf's comments about the brass castings, they are brass sand castings and they do require a bit of work to smooth them out.
There are some investment castings that these companys supply which don't require as much work to finish however, it has been my experiance that most if not all of these are cast out of bronze. Bronze castings will often break if you try to bend them however the brass ones are usually quite ductile and can be adjusted without their breaking.

zonie

 

[grey8833]

Robbo:

Kit or buy custom really depends on what you want - a "box of parts" is 200 hours of fun, but if you don't consider 200 hours of sanding, filing, fitting, (cursing), fun..... buy custom. The suggestion of buying in the white is a nice half way point.

And do be careful, building is seriously addictive.

Mike

 

[MSW]

what Robbie said.

i'd go with a Jim Chambers kit, if i had it all to do over. and here's a thought, for what it's worth. you might want to build a pistol (i also reccomend Chambers) which isn't quite as expensive (although it ain't cheap, either). they're a bit easier to wrap one's head around, and not quite so intimidating.

there's a good video that goes with the Jim Chambers pistol kit, which is probably a good investment, even if you decide against the pistol kit idea.

really, any way you slice it, you'll end up dropping fifteen hundred to three grand into this project by the time you work up your 'sweet spot load.' (a bit stiff, but you'll need some tools, and one thing will lead to another, and whoopie- the guy with the most gadgets WINS.)

if you haven't already done so, you should get a few books: Gunsmith of Grenville County and Recreating the American Longrifle. get a copy of the Track of the Wolf catalog- the illustrations are full sized and can be very handy if you decide to go with the kit.

good luck with your project, and welcome to the wonderful world of rockbangers!

msw

 

[tg]

"With reguard to Stumblin Wolf's comments about the brass castings, they are brass sand castings and they do require a bit of work to smooth them out"

I would much rather spend the time on working down the brass than use bronze myself, I think the brass just looks and "feels" better.

 

[Robbo]

Many thanks for great advice which is much appreciated. You have given me plenty to consider.

Best Wishes

Robbo

 

[Dickert54cal]

Take your time and really think it through so you will be 100% happy with your decission. If money isnt too big an obsticle maybe think about buying a semi custom gun completely finished then save and buy a kit to finish yourself. You can use the finished gun as sort of a model to work by. If its a kit or semi custom gun or complete custom gun you want --may I suggest you look at(milerunmuzzleloaders--- Don Yerks work as well as Brad Emig at Cabin Creek Muzzleloaders. Both are builders here in PA and two of the best out there. If you like pistols ---Don now heads up the Kennedy shop where the pistols for Pirates of the Car. and the pistols for The Patriot were made if I remember right?? :hatsoff: