New Kibler/Brooks rifle.

[EC121]

Well I finally got around to taking some pictures of my newest rifle. It is a .58cal. Colonial Kibler kit dolled up by Mike brooks. Mike added the set triggers. It weighs in at 8.6lbs. I would say that anything in a smaller caliber would be pretty hefty. This one has good balance, but a .50 could get a bit nose heavy. I didn't really need another rifle, but the opportunity came along and I wanted one of Mike's rifles without the 2-3yr. wait. Due to the heat, I haven't been able to do more than test fire it.

 

[tnlonghunter]

That's gorgeous. I love it!

 

[jae]

Beautful

 

[FishDFly]

Nice rifle.

 

[flinter1977]

That rifle is very good looking.

 

[rdlowe]

Wow, congrats!

 

[SDSmlf]

Well I finally got around to taking some pictures of my newest rifle. It is a .58cal. Colonial Kibler kit dolled up by Mike brooks. Mike added the set triggers. It weighs in at 8.6lbs. I would say that anything in a smaller caliber would be pretty hefty. This one has good balance, but a .50 could get a bit nose heavy. I didn't really need another rifle, but the opportunity came along and I wanted one of Mike's rifles without the 2-3yr. wait. Due to the heat, I haven't been able to do more than test fire it.

One of the best kits out there with Mike’s artistic skills finishing it up. Hard, if not near impossible to beat.

 

[EC121]

I just noticed that the cheekpiece carving is a bit out of focus so I'll post this one.

 

[brazosland]

Great looking gun.

The large, circular, sort of a schroll on the butt behind the cheek piece...is there a babe for that design? Is it associated with a certain builder or geography? Time period?

Seems like you see something similar on a lot of rifles.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

At some point, I'll get one of these. Very nice rifle there!

 

[plmeek]

The large, circular, sort of a schroll on the butt behind the cheek piece...is there a babe for that design? Is it associated with a certain builder or geography? Time period?

That's a C-scroll ending in spiral volutes with some stylized acanthus leaves.. Those are elements of rococo design. That form of firearm decoration was brought to the colonies by German, and a few French, gun makers in the first half of the 18th century.

This is RCA #43 that has been attributed to Andreas Albrecht and dates to the 1750s or '60s.

The Edward Marshall rifle, also attributed to Andreas Albrecht, has similar carving to #43. This is a copy of it by Jud Brennan.

As various regional "schools" developed in Pennsylvania, this early form evolved into variations. The gunsmiths around Lancaster used it often and developed the "double" C-scroll designed such as this from RCA #70, which is also attributed by some to Andreas Albrecht.

It became a favorite design for several Lancaster gun makers such as Jacob Dickert in the 1770s through the 1790s.

Rococo design began losing popularity in some parts of Europe by the 1760s and was completely out of fashion in France by 1785. It lasted longer in America. Subsequent generations of American gun makers were rarely taught the fundamentals of rococo design, but rather learned to copy some of its simpler elements in geometric designs.

 

[LawrenceA]

Very nice
A little simple carving and engraving can sure make a gun. Something I can aspire to.

Nice chunk of tree doesn't go astray either.

 

[Brokennock]

Very, very, nice rifle. Congratulations, enjoy her.

 

[EC121]

I don't know that Mike had a certain school in mind. A friend bought three kits from Kibler on a clearance sale. He sent one to Mike and just told him to do what he felt like. I asked for first option on it. The beaver tail tang carving is sort of English/Virginia. It is really whatever Mike wanted to do. The chip carving and half circles around the buttplate are Brooksisms.

 

[TarponStalker]

Beautiful rifle

 

[MrGStewart]

That is spectacular!

 

[Patrick Thomas]

Magnificent. Mike does beautiful work.

 

[Bob McBride]

Mike is solidly in my top 5 builders and this work is worthy of his name. Definitely Brooksie. Perfect.

 

[plmeek]

I don't know that Mike had a certain school in mind...It is really whatever Mike wanted to do. The chip carving and half circles around the buttplate are Brooksisms.

I couldn't agree more, especially on the carving around the butt plate. On the other hand, Mike Brooks is familiar with the old masters and rococo carving, and he could have decorated the rifle in a more conventional manner if he wanted.

I wasn't trying to place Mike's rifle in a "school". I was answering brazosland's question about the carving behind the cheekpiece. Here Mike was paying homage to some of the Colonial gun makers of Pennsylvania.

 

[RB POWELL]

Well I finally got around to taking some pictures of my newest rifle. It is a .58cal. Colonial Kibler kit dolled up by Mike brooks. Mike added the set triggers. It weighs in at 8.6lbs. I would say that anything in a smaller caliber would be pretty hefty. This one has good balance, but a .50 could get a bit nose heavy. I didn't really need another rifle, but the opportunity came along and I wanted one of Mike's rifles without the 2-3yr. wait. Due to the heat, I haven't been able to do more than test fire it.

Absolutely beautiful!