My Kibler SMR arrived today

TDM · Jul 14, 2023

alde said:
I'm just trying to learn. Is this because it would not be historically correct for this type rifle? The reason I ask is I'm close to ordering a Kibler Woodsrunner and am trying to decide if I want to get the carved version.

While there are exceptions to everything, Southern Mountain style rifles are characterized by their clean, simple lines with little to no embellishments of any kind. But I have seen one that was inlayed and carved, they are best kept pure and simple. Now the Woodsrunner was meant to be carved. I'm struggling with that as we squeak.

alde · Jul 14, 2023

TDM said:
While there are exceptions to everything, Southern Mountain style rifles are characterized by their clean, simple lines with little to no embellishments of any kind. But I have seen one that was inlayed and carved, they are best kept pure and simple. Now the Woodsrunner was meant to be carved. I'm struggling with that as we squeak.

Thank you for the explanation. This will be my first build and I have never done any carving. I do love the look of it though. I just may take advantage of the opportunity to get the carved version. Maybe someday I'll get up the nerve to try it myself.

IanH · Jul 14, 2023

alde said:
Thank you for the explanation. This will be my first build and I have never done any carving. I do love the look of it though. I just may take advantage of the opportunity to get the carved version. Maybe someday I'll get up the nerve to try it myself.

I think Mr. Kibler had folks like yourself in mind when he decided to work out a pre-carved Woodsrunner.

TDM · Jul 14, 2023

alde said:
Thank you for the explanation. This will be my first build and I have never done any carving. I do love the look of it though. I just may take advantage of the opportunity to get the carved version. Maybe someday I'll get up the nerve to try it myself.

I have one of the carved Woodsrunners on order in Cherry. Hoping it ships in the next few days.

acavdragoon · Jul 14, 2023

TDM said:
I have one of the carved Woodsrunners on order in Cherry. Hoping it ships in the next few days.

Got mine last week. I’m going to get started soon, as I’m finishing up another Woodsrunner today.

TDM · Jul 14, 2023

acavdragoon said:
Got mine last week. I’m going to get started soon, as I’m finishing up another Woodsrunner today.

It looks great from here! Are you pleased with it so far?

acavdragoon · Jul 14, 2023

TDM said:
It looks great from here! Are you pleased with it so far?

Yes! Really nice and smooth, not mush sanding. I’ll just need to go over it with 320 I’m thinking. The finish is going to be the problem, not sure how I’m going to do that yet.

TDM · Jul 14, 2023

acavdragoon said:
Yes! Really nice and smooth, not mush sanding. I’ll just need to go over it with 320 I’m thinking. The finish is going to be the problem, not sure how I’m going to do that yet.

Good to hear! Yours is maple, right?

WBNovak · Jul 14, 2023

I just finished a Kibler SMR in walnut. You are going to love the finished rifle, not to mention the joy of putting it together. Looking forward to seeing the finished gun.

acavdragoon · Jul 14, 2023

TDM said:
Good to hear! Yours is maple, right?

Yes, extra fancy.

JohnBHM · Jul 14, 2023

Started work on the toe plate tonight. I had looked at many different designs until I found one I liked. I may take it down a liottle but this is the basic shape.

TDM · Jul 14, 2023

acavdragoon said:
Yes, extra fancy.

That's great. Good luck on your choice for a finish. On maple I use one or two coats of iron nitrate depending on how dark I want it. And then multiple coats of Tried & True oil varnish or the Laurel Mountain Permilyn.

JohnBHM · Nov 11, 2023

I finally got some time to get back to the SMR. I had gotten the toe plate installed before I had to shelve it while I finished some much needed house repairs and the extra work to pay for them. I started with my cut out for a pewter nose cap but when I couldn't find my pewter I decided to go to the other end and set the moon I made previously. After I had the moon cut in, my daughter said it needed a star so that was tonight's project. They aren't set all the way in yet so that I can still remove them.
I'm not sure how I'm going to attach them yet. I feel they should be pinned or nailed on but will probably set them with epoxy to start. I have thought about drilling two on the moon and one on the star and using brass pins for the appearance.

54ball · Nov 11, 2023

alde said:
I'm just trying to learn. Is this because it would not be historically correct for this type rifle? The reason I ask is I'm close to ordering a Kibler Woodsrunner and am trying to decide if I want to get the carved version.

If you can get the carved version, get it.
It’s very nice and appropriate.

Now SMRs; and that’s a very broad term, were seldom carved as in behind the cheek like an 18th century rifle.

With that said sometimes you’ll see SMRs with fore stock, buttstock and cheek piece moulding lines.

reddogge · Nov 12, 2023

The appeal of the Southern mountain rifles was their absolute simplicity. When you consider the people who they were made for it is understandable. The most decoration I've ever seen on originals were patch boxes and a couple of incised lines on the cheek pieces.

JohnBHM · Nov 13, 2023

Poured the nose cap tonight and filed the star flush with stock after setting it with epoxy.

yellowhammer · Nov 16, 2023

Y'all are tempting me to try to pour a pewter nosecap. Never tried it; like the effect.

springfield art · Nov 16, 2023

JohnBHM said:
I ordered the 36. caliber in an upgraded walnut stock that was posted on there sight. The photos didn't look that special but I knew it would be nice if they upgraded it and I was not let down. View attachment 232160 View attachment 232163 View attachment 232169 View attachment 232170 View attachment 232171 View attachment 232172

That's some careful packaging! Great grain! Kibler really delivers; I want one of his (future) Hawken's! Good luck, looks great! The degree of his finishing is amazing, he's really got a first rate practice going.

JohnBHM · Nov 16, 2023

yellowhammer said:
Y'all are tempting me to try to pour a pewter nosecap. Never tried it; like the effect.

I did a practice pour with a scrap piece of walnut before attempting on the stock. I really wanted to make sure I could fill in a void if it needed. This piece was fractured and tough to carve but I did fill in the void. I then just melted it off to reuse.