My new Kibler Colonial....

[GAHUNTER60]

"In the White" that arrived at my door today Is an absolute work of art! I would never have believed that a rifle could be built to such perfect tolerances.

When I got over the initial shock of the realization that I didn't really know what the heck I was doing (I've never owned a flinter) and started actually working with the rifle, I found out how much difference those perfect tolerances make when disassembling the gun for stock and barrel finishing. The lock screws were perfectly lined up and torqued so that when I took them out, a screwdriver was only needed to break the torque, after which I could take them out with my fingers. Same with the four barrel pins and the hardware pins. They were so perfectly lined up that I had zero problem punching them out, yet the hardware was mounted rock solid. Nothing suffered from any degree of binding or force fitting. I'm just not used to that!

I must say that I'm mightily impressed with the rifle.

I just want to thank all of you who led me to purchase this rifle over the other one I was considering (and actually had a deal on). I can't imagine a longrifle built by anyone could equal my Kibler for the price.

Now, I can't wait to get her to the range!

 

[Grenadier1758]

There are those times when it pays to step back and review everything about the situation. Get help where you can't resolve issues on your own. You did right by asking questions before you did any harm. Its not a problem if there are procedures around that give the desired results. Now you can do the final finishing and have a rifle that you will be proud to show off in the Forum and be shooting at the range.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Yep, now you're ruined from buying those inexpensive guns and thinking they are a "good deal"! When you shoot it the rest of those thoughts will be banished from your soul.

 

[hanshi]

Great choice for your rifle. I hope to eventually get one of my own.

 

[S.Kenton]

I’d like to see it, I’m thinking about getting one myself

 

[oldhunter1954]

I hope you took pictures before you took it apart. Would love to see them.

 

[GAHUNTER60]

No, I did not take a picture of it out of the box. But here's one from this afternoon after sanding, whiskering (three times), and applying the first coat of Laurel Mountain Lancaster Maple stain. I went with the Laurel Mountain because I bought the rifle with standard grade wood and concluded that the rather plain maple would look better if it were stained a little darker than the iron nitrate stain everybody's using on the curly maple stocks with a lot of figure.

You can see, even the standard grade stock has some character (even stained as dark as it is).

 

[oldhunter1954]

No, I did not take a picture of it out of the box. But here's one from this afternoon after sanding, whiskering (three times), and applying the first coat of Laurel Mountain Lancaster Maple stain. I went with the Laurel Mountain because I bought the rifle with standard grade wood and concluded that the rather plain maple would look better if it were stained a little darker than the iron nitrate stain everybody's using on the curly maple stocks with a lot of figure.

You can see, even the standard grade stock has some character (even stained as dark as it is).

View attachment 70484

Thanks. Very nice.

 

[oldhunter1954]

This is the Colonial in 54 cal I built from Kibler's kit.

 

[Hawken1980]

Here is mine 50 caliber colonial

 

[S.Kenton]

You guys are killing me!

 

[EC121]

MIne is on my blog at July 2020. www.bricestultzhisblog.blogspot.com

 

[Mulebrain]

You guys are killing me!

Here is another, may run this one on Sunday after finishing up a few things on it.

 

[S.Kenton]

Man you guys are cruel! Mulebrain, I love the dark stain!! I’m thinking plain maple and super dark stain..

 

[PathfinderNC]

One I built went to Mississippi...

 

[Art Caputo]

They are top quality, and shoot very well to boot. Finished this one last fall. Grade 2 maple. 50 and 100 yard targets. No swabbing.

 

[Ballshooter]

Beautiful and can't complain on accuracy!

 

[Reno]

All look great,

 

[Phil Coffins]

Mine from last year, and I’m still well pleased with it.
IMG_0541 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Every time I see one of Jim and Kathy’s creations my heart soars like the hawk.

Imcredible rifles! I need to place an order for one of their SMRs in cherry’s wood.