Mr. Brant Selb

[S.Kenton]

My 1980 Lyman’s GPR has better hardware fitment than that. I’d be ticked as well! That lock should be flush, what’s that on the buttstock area? And yes that pewter nose cap can be reworked, I don’t know if I would repour it, maybe rework the existing nose cap to your desired shape and sheen. I’ve done what you’re doing a couple of times with a certain builder, but his stuff only costs around 1000$ so I expect to work on it some. Good luck and let us know how you fare.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

I have done a few things as a novice....I dont feel bad now...

 

[brushblind]

It's a bad build and looked rushed IMO. $2800.00 was too much for that work.

 

[1unadog]

I apologize for my bad attitude- I do not intend any personal attacks, just relaying my situation. Please do not take any of my comments personally.
This is all intended as a "buyer beware".
That said, I did do my research. He had mostly pretty good reviews (except wait times, but that is understandable, and there was that Covid thing that affected supply chains, etc.). He was nice and mostly reasonable on the phone and email. Rifles on his website are beautiful. When I asked for slight modifications (I don't remember what) he said he didn't do variations; he built period-correct (as much as can be I guess). Hey, that's great-
I just feel I did not get the quality I expected at the expense. Period-correct is fine, but it doesn't have to mean poor craftsmanship. I doubt the Hawken Brothers would have let this out of their shop with their name on it.
He could have simply returned my dollars in exchange for return of the unfired rifle and posted it on his website for the same price I paid. Guarantee it would have sold in a week, and someone out there might be super happy with it. And I would not be posting any of this.

I emailed him a few pictures with my dissatisfaction. He responded a few days later (it was the weekend) and said to go ahead and use it for the remainder of squirrel season and he would address my issues. After thinking about it a bit, I emailed back to ask for a refund. He responded that he had made me a reasonable offer (repair), that he was not my personal ATM, and he would not be making any more offers (I guess I never really thought if that meant I could still send it back for repairs) I decided I didn't want to wait another unknown length of time, and that I would just rebuild it myself. He said Good Luck building a rifle as good as the one you have! Well.... I'll post pictures of the rebuild as it progresses with before and after pics, and you out there can judge my work as you like. Salty Cracker, here is the rifle on the kitchen table. Looks fine from above.
I removed the butt plate for sanding purposes and to recut the fit, epoxy was already there. I can't remove the trigger guard, it seems to be epoxied in place, not going to mess with that. Ordered pewter today to pour new nose cap.
Sorry for my ranting.....

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

****

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

I would like to hear from Brant Selb himself. On how such a thing could be passed off as work as a craftsman...

 

[Ryeboy86]

I apologize for my bad attitude- I do not intend any personal attacks, just relaying my situation. Please do not take any of my comments personally.
This is all intended as a "buyer beware".
That said, I did do my research. He had mostly pretty good reviews (except wait times, but that is understandable, and there was that Covid thing that affected supply chains, etc.). He was nice and mostly reasonable on the phone and email. Rifles on his website are beautiful. When I asked for slight modifications (I don't remember what) he said he didn't do variations; he built period-correct (as much as can be I guess). Hey, that's great-
I just feel I did not get the quality I expected at the expense. Period-correct is fine, but it doesn't have to mean poor craftsmanship. I doubt the Hawken Brothers would have let this out of their shop with their name on it.
He could have simply returned my dollars in exchange for return of the unfired rifle and posted it on his website for the same price I paid. Guarantee it would have sold in a week, and someone out there might be super happy with it. And I would not be posting any of this.

I emailed him a few pictures with my dissatisfaction. He responded a few days later (it was the weekend) and said to go ahead and use it for the remainder of squirrel season and he would address my issues. After thinking about it a bit, I emailed back to ask for a refund. He responded that he had made me a reasonable offer (repair), that he was not my personal ATM, and he would not be making any more offers (I guess I never really thought if that meant I could still send it back for repairs) I decided I didn't want to wait another unknown length of time, and that I would just rebuild it myself. He said Good Luck building a rifle as good as the one you have! Well.... I'll post pictures of the rebuild as it progresses with before and after pics, and you out there can judge my work as you like. Salty Cracker, here is the rifle on the kitchen table. Looks fine from above.
I removed the butt plate for sanding purposes and to recut the fit, epoxy was already there. I can't remove the trigger guard, it seems to be epoxied in place, not going to mess with that. Ordered pewter today to pour new nose cap.
Sorry for my ranting.....

Could just be me.. But I find that insulting and rude that he said "Good luck building a rifle as good as the one you have".. I'm a nice guy, but if I was in this situation and told that.. I might have said some choice words.. LOL

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Well Mr Selb has just put himself in a particular position. he can explain particular,s as such...care to weigh in?

 

[deerstalkert]

i am the dogs tail as far as a builder goes, and the sight of that epoxy made me gag. wonder if Selb farmed it out to someone like me. if his previous work was exemplary that could explain it.
2800? not in my eyes but that's just me.
i haven't poured many nose caps, and cannot soy my efforts are any better then the example, but even i get the two side rails even

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Brant Selb got back to me.

He is currently not offering me a refund of my $1000 for reasons I decided to give him patience for.

I’m about to just give up on it.

Any buyer reading this thread would be a fool to give this man any money for guns or services at present.

 

[Ryeboy86]

Brant Selb got back to me.

He is currently not offering me a refund of my $1000 for reasons I decided to give him patience for.

I’m about to just give up on it.

Any buyer reading this thread would be a fool to give this man any money for guns or services at present.

Sorry to hear that.. Would a legal route be viable, or probably cost to much?

 

[Grenadier1758]

The Selb Hawken incorporates what it is known of a full stock J&S Hawken rifle in percussion. Up until 1830 the Hawken brothers mostly repaired rifles. The Ashley rifle is documented as being built in 1826. Percussion caps were so new at that time that it is most likely that the rifle built for Ashley had to be a flintlock, but even that bit of speculation can't be substantiated. When Sam was interviewed at 80 years of age, he recalled that they built Ashley a special rifle with a 1 ounce ball and a long barrel. The lock type was not mentioned.

Your Selb rifle is a rifle that could have been made on the 1825 to 1835 time frame. We just can't verify how many could have been flintlocks. Or how many rifles were made. Production numbers would have been low.

@Rod Man, enjoy your rifle.

I just noticed after 18 months that I had the wrong year in my post. I certainly hope that readers figured out that once again, I was in the wrong century.

 

[th1840]

Lock not properly inletted, won’t mount flush with stock. So many problems. I started to rebuild entire rifle last night. 2800.00$

That is horrible, I would get my money back not very proud of his own work

 

[Fishslap]

Deleted

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I’ve had one on order for about three years. Contacted him recently and he said he finally found a suitable left hand stock and I should have my rifle this spring. I’ll remain hopeful.

Good luck!!

 

[Dave Marsh]

I’ve had one on order for about three years. Contacted him recently and he said he finally found a suitable left hand stock and I should have my rifle this spring. I’ll remain hopeful.

I'd tell him not to start and return my money.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

I’ve had one on order for about three years. Contacted him recently and he said he finally found a suitable left hand stock and I should have my rifle this spring. I’ll remain hopeful.

Three years for a suitable left hand stock? I dont get it....

 

[vintovka]

Does it seems like this sort of thing can completely destroy reputations for both future projects and the value of any branded item ever made?

 

[rich pierce]

Bob Browner is the remaining Hawken rifle master builder. Louie Parker has passed away.

For reasons like this story I seldom take orders. Life is unpredictable, as are supplies, health, and time. So I generally build what I want to build, on my schedule. If someone wants to buy it after seeing it, great. If not, I’ve got the gun I wanted to build.

But, I’m a hobby builder. There are some professionals who are fine builders and great project managers as well. Few have both in good measure.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I would not want to try to make a good living building muzzleloaders even if I had the skills. Too much involved for what people can or will pay. At the same time taking money and doing shoddy work isn’t right.