Plain Maple Colonial is finished

[Tenring]

I am sure the reason he does not export his Rifles is because the shipping alone would be astronomical and one would be lucky to have it arrive in one piece, + if a problem arose getting it back to his shop would be the same. It would be a lose lose situation.

 

[powderman]

love that gun, you can be proud of you job on it, very nice.

 

[Tenring]

Very True, and very beautiful.

 

[th1840]

Great looking gun and an outstanding job on finish choice and color, you can be very proud of your accomplishment. Now go shoot and get some use patina on it

 

[MountainSmoke]

That’s the nicest “plain maple” stock I’ve ever seen. I’d pick that over fancy maple with a different finish. Good job, want’a make one like that for me……? After 60 hours work I don’t imagine so.

Thank you, I've never really considered myself very fancy, I'm kinda plain and I like plain simple things that get the job done. Plain can still be beautiful though ( not me the gun lol!)

 

[MountainSmoke]

Also first time builder here. Also Colonial in maple stock. Been loving the process, wanted to just work on weekends so it stayed a joy not a chore.

Like you, I’ve also greatly appreciated the sage advice. I’ve got from this group here, and really appreciated the excellent videos that Jim Kibler has on YouTube.
I’m not a woodworker, but I am an armor, but working with wood, and 18 century designs is a very different concepts than what I was trained for.

Man, not sure if you know how much wisdom is contained in your statement “I started this project expecting every step to go perfectly and quickly learned that I'd better be happy with" good enough" or I was going to drive myself crazy.”

It looks like your good enough, is the same standard as mine, very very close to being as perfect as possible. So nicely done, very nicely done. And thanks for the encouragement!

Thanks for the kind words my friend and that rifle is a thing of beauty! It's cool how much variation there can be from one person's Kit to the next depending on wood type, finishing preference and so forth even though they started out looking roughly the same. Great work on yours!

 

[trader82325]

With 5 Pecotonica UH builds under my belt..I'd be proud to own one you've done such as this !!

 

[Kmcmichael]

Very elegant. I’ve always opted for the extra fancy and have also done above grade when they had it. Yours makes me want to change my current order to plain. Yet I am afraid my attention to detail might not be your equal.

 

[Kmcmichael]

I was just thinking that when a person finishes a new build how super nice and elegant it looks and then after putting a hundred rounds or so through the thing the black powder it self with the sulfur and charcoal just Burns and stains the gun up. But we build them to shoot. The Rifle by the way turned out fantastic.

Rust browning holds up much better if that is what you like.

 

[springfield art]

60 hours later here it is. Standard grade sugar maple stock. This is my first attempt at putting together a muzzleloader kit. What a experience it was! I found myself constantly visiting this forum searching up old threads for guidance and help. Would have been vastly more difficult without it so huge thanks to the forum and it's members. Of course, Jim Kibler's YouTube videos were invaluable as well. I started this project expecting every step to go perfectly and quickly learned that I'd better be happy with" good enough" or I was going to drive myself crazy. There were victories and there were defeats, all part of the experience. Even long before I started this kit I had a vision in my mind of how I would want a rifle to look based on personal preference and authenticity. Dark plain maple stock with a scraped finish,a few tool marks here or there wouldn't bother me. Metal parts finished in the white. Brass not too polished. No carving. Just a plain old workhorse rifle that is going to see a lot of time in the mountains. Some details: 54 caliber, stock was stained with two fairly heavy coats of iron nitrate and then heat was applied. Tried and True varnish finish 3 coats so far but may add another one or two. If your on the fence about putting together one of these kits like I was, just do it! The experience and knowledge learned is priceless and you will have a beautiful quality made longrifle that you can be proud of forever. Thanks Jim Kibler for giving folks that opportunity.View attachment 214865View attachment 214866View attachment 214867View attachment 214868View attachment 214869View attachment 214870View attachment 214871View attachment 214872

This is so handsome in it's simplicity, that it almost looks "hyper-modern" in an odd way! The lines are like that of a super-sonic jet fighter, it's so clean and un-cluttered! I really like when someone breaks from the "super curly" shibboleth and works with a solid, plain, piece of wood. Beautiful photos, what a treasure!

 

[Nash]

Beautiful job. Those are such nice kits.
I’m hoping to be able to do one of those before too long. I’d be extremely proud of that.

 

[Mike in FL]

Well done sir.

 

[James Kibler]

That's some nice clean work and very well finished! Congratulations.

 

[MountainSmoke]

Very nice , I wish Jim would export his kits .

Thank you

 

[MountainSmoke]

Nice job. Love the utilitarian look of this gun!

Thank you

 

[MountainSmoke]

love that gun, you can be proud of you job on it, very nice.

I appreciate that

 

[MountainSmoke]

Great looking gun and an outstanding job on finish choice and color, you can be very proud of your accomplishment. Now go shoot and get some use patina on it

Thank you Sir, honestly I got lucky on the color coming out the way it did. Wanted a dark stock so did a little experimenting and went with it. Almost used tannic acid but glad I didn't because might have been a little too dark.

 

[MountainSmoke]

Great looking gun and an outstanding job on finish choice and color, you can be very proud of your accomplishment. Now go shoot and get some use patina on it

Thank you Sir, honestly I got lucky on the color coming out the way it did. Wanted a dark stock so did a little experimenting and went with it. Almost used tannic acid but glad I didn't because might have been a little too dark.

With 5 Pecotonica UH builds under my belt..I'd be proud to own one you've done such as this !!

Thanks!

 

[MountainSmoke]

Thank you. I think more folks should try the standard grade maple, you may be pleasantly surprised.

 

[MountainSmoke]

Very elegant. I’ve always opted for the extra fancy and have also done above grade when they had it. Yours makes me want to change my current order to plain. Yet I am afraid my attention to detail might not be your equal.

Thanks, I think more folks should give standard grade maple a try. You may be pleasantly surprised.