Looking for a supplier

[Kirkschopped67]

I am looking for a supplier to purchase a flintlock rifle kit and parts from. Who out there do you guys like to purchase from. This will be my first build, and I want to purchase the best parts. What barrels, locks, and stocks do you guys like. Are there any build videos or manuals that would be an asset in building a flintlock rifle.
Thanks

Kirk

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

Buy this first. :hatsoff:

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/303/1/BOOK-GGC

 

[Don Steele]

Welcome Kirk.
There are a lot of folks offering kits so it won't be hard to find one. That said, you might have some difficulty deciding which one you want to get. At the moment, probably the "hottest" kit going is one currently being offered by Jim Kibler. https://kiblerslongrifles.com/coll...outhern-mountain-rifle-kit-gun-base-price-950
With this kit, Jim has bridged the gap between the mass manufactured kits offered by T/C. CVA, etc. and the more traditional kits offered by folks like Jim Chambers, Track of the Wolf, Tip Curtis, Dunlap Woodcraft, etc, etc. which take more work and a more experienced builder...or at least someone willing to do a lot of learning along the way. The only downside to Kibler's offering is that at this time, he only offers the single style so if you're not interested in a Southern Mountain style rifle you'll need to look elsewhere. He also does not offer a LEFT-hand rifle kit.
You'll definitely want to pick up some books, perhaps a video as well. As already suggested, Track has a good selection.
As to rifle particulars, since you asked for opinions, I'll share mine, with the caveat that they are just that..OPINIONS...and worth what you paid for them: :wink:
1. Barrel...Rice, match grade, square bottom rifling.
2. Lock... Chambers, Deluxe Siler.
3. Stock...Go for as fancy a piece of wood as you can possibly afford. This is the one place that you can really improve your finished rifle's appeal for the least amount of money and work.
A little extra money spent on wood really pays off in the finished rifle.

ENJOY the journey. :thumbsup:

 

[kurts]

It may be hard to do but handle as many styles as possible, before you buy so you know what you want and not make a thousand dollar mistake.
good luck.

 

[EC121]

You can buy From Track of the Wolf, Log Cabin shop, Muzzleloader builders supply, Dixie Gun works, Knob Mountain for wood , Jim Chambers at Flintlocks.com., Tenn. Valley Muzzleloaders. for a start. There are more.
Don't rush into a bunch of parts until you look around. For a first build, I would recommend Jim Kibler's So. Mountain Rifle kit. It is quality parts and a a good easy to assemble first kit. There will probably be some metal polishing and close final fitting of the wood, but it is the class of the kits right now, but he only has one style. Go to www.JimKibler.net There is a wait for the kits. Another option would be to get someone to assemble a rifle in the white and you could finish it.
If you go with other than Kibler's kit(his is done with a CNC machine), be careful of blanks with the lock pre-inlet. The inlet doesn't always line up properly with the barrel. Better to get a precarved stock with barrel and ramrod channel only and no lock inlet.
You didn't say how deep you want to get into the build.

 

[Vaino]

First off...decide what style of LR you want....some suppliers don't carry a whole lot of LR "schools" or styles.

For a Southern Mountain style, Jim Kibler's single offering is probably the best on the market.

For a variety of LRs, Jim Chambers' website displays many styles and his locks carry a lifetime warranty. His parts sets are a notch above the rest.

Dunlap's parts sets are also some of the best as are Pecatonica's.

TOW's parts sets are slightly lower quality...I've sent 2 back for refunds.

There are also some other good suppliers and you'll have to do some research to find them.

Good luck in your quest.....Fred

 

[Grenadier1758]

What is your experience in working with mostly hand tools on wood and metal? What tools do you have available to use. Do you know anyone who has a flintlock or has built one? Get the suggested books such as "Recreating the American Longrifle" or "The Gunsmith of Grenville County".

If you have little experience, then I suggest one of the in-the-white kits offered by people such as Tip Curtis or TVM. In-the-white kits have all the difficult wood to metal work done. You won't have to install the breechplug, under lugs or sights. What is left is the final shaping of the stock, drawfiling of the barrel, and final polishing of the metal parts before stainng the stock and treat the barrel and lock.

Another topic to consider is what is the availability of black powder where you live. The substitutes simply do not work in a flintlock. Black powder ignites at a much lower temperature.

 

[Eric Krewson]

Please excuse my plagiarism; one of the members here put the"kit" definition in perfect perspective so I saved it for future threads pertaining to newbies.


I hope you understand these "kits" offered by Track of the Wolf, Pecatonica River, Jim Chambers,Muzzleloader Builders Supply, etc are far from a easily built "kit". In fact, they could be more properly called a "box of rough parts".
Absolutely nothing will fit.

The only things that come close to being finished parts are the lock and the trigger. Even these parts require locating, drilling and threading the holes for the screws that hold the parts to the stock.

The barrel is not finished. It is rifled but the sight dovetails are not cut and on many of them the breechplug is not installed. This applies to the trigger guard, butt plate, side plate too. These are just rough, unfinished sand castings.

All of the parts will need to be inletted into the wooden stock. This applies to the barrel, lock, trigger guard, butt plate, side plate and ramrod thimbles.
Speaking of the stock, even it is just a moderately close roughed out blank which will require a LOT of wood removal to be close to the real longrifles.

Knowledge of metal and wood work is a definite requirement.

Plan on spending a minimum of 120 hours of your time to finish your gun. Actually, for a first build, a number like 180 hours would be closer if you want your gun to be something you can be proud of.

I'm not telling you all of this to discourage you. I just don't want to see anyone go into this with the idea that the gun will be ready for assembly.

Speaking of ready for assembly, Traditions, Lyman and Pedersoli offer kits that are easy to assemble and finish.
These are basically the same guns these companies sell but the parts don't have their finish sanding and finishing done.

These "Big Factory Kits" are indeed, true "kits" with all of the threaded holes located and finished.
They require something like 15-30 hours of your time to finish depending on whether you wish to make modifications like reshaping the stock or installing inlays or wire inlays.

 

[Vaino]

If cutting dovetails is a daunting task, then the Chambers' parts sets have the bbl lugs and front sight dovetails already done....all that remains is cutting in the dovetail for the rear sight of which the distance from the eye can vary w/ the individual.

The Chambers' brass parts are investment cast and require very little time to finish...I mainly use a scraper and then some 400 grit paper followed by green Scotchbrite.

Some parts sets include sand cast brass components and these require a lot more time to finish....because of the excessive amount of brass that has to be removed.

All chambers' locks have a lifetime warranty and I've use this twice w/o any complications.

The Chambers' precarves are pretty good and allow for relief carving and have had a minimum of errors.


Having built 3 Chambers' Early Lancasters and found a minimum of problems, it's logical that I prefer them.....Fred

 

[Kirkschopped67]

Thank you guys...this is exactly the info I am looking for. I will move forward as you suggest. I will order the books/manuals and videos. I will check on the Jim Kibler kit, that sounds like a great place to start. Once I build and shoot that gun, I could go deeper on the next build. Thank you very much for your response. I will read a lot more on this site, thank you for the great support and start.

Thank again
Kirk

 

[Kirkschopped67]

update

I have purchased the book https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/303/1/BOOK-GGC and emailed Jim Kibler about purchasing a kit from him.

Thanks for the help
Kirk