Please remove.

[Rangefogger]

I removed my original post as some members found it offensive.

 

[Rangefogger]

Remove.

 

[Rangefogger]

remove

 

[Rangefogger]

remove

 

[Pete G]

Offer $3K

 

[andy52]

It's hard to call but I wouldn't pay 3600.00 for that rifle.

 

[SmokepoleSam]

I personally wouldn't pay $2500 for it. I agree the carving looks a little rough. Not an expert just my opinion, only you can determine if it's worth that price to you. $1300 for the kit, $1000 to build= $2300 is the carving worth $1200? Prices approximate. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

I wouldn't call the carving 'rough' ... but perhaps the scraping could have been more complete/uniform/smoothed on the background. There also appears to be a mix of floral designs, where they should have stayed with one school/design.

FWIW you can get a truly 100% CUSTOM longrifle, from a blank or a Chamber kit, for less than that! As a ballpark, while it might take a few years to get, you could get a Don Bruton custom 'Boone' longrifle with handforged hardware and carving for shy of $3K.

Now the metal is engraved, but having seen recent Kiblers built going for < 2$K completed - with better finished wood quality and color (I personally don't like the color of the above piece .... ) ..there's no way that engraving adds an additional $1K in value, at least to me.

 

[springfield art]

Simply would like some opinions on this rifles finish… it is a kibler colonial in .54. I’m not experienced enough to know if this is a quality carving job or if it is rough… honestly it looks a little rough to me. So the question is, do you think this rifle is worth $3600.00? Let me know what you think!

No way is it worth that. IMHO.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Simply would like some opinions on this rifles finish… it is a kibler colonial in .54. I’m not experienced enough to know if this is a quality carving job or if it is rough… honestly it looks a little rough to me. So the question is, do you think this rifle is worth $3600.00? Let me know what you think!

It is a fine rifle with decent carving, but the finish is fuzzy in some areas. Don't know if that is poor clean up in the carving or the oil coat is not rubbed out/finished properly. I would not pay what he is asking!
Larry

 

[erhunter]

For that price or cheaper ($3600) I would go to Cabin Creek Muzzleloaders in Harlem, Pa. near York, Pa. They can build a custom rifle for that price including hand forged materials. Their work is top notch. I wouldn't pay that much for the Kibler rifle, maybe $1900.

 

[Rangefogger]

For that price or cheaper ($3600) I would go to Cabin Creek Muzzleloaders in Harlem, Pa. near York, Pa. They can build a custom rifle for that price including hand forged materials. Their work is top notch. I wouldn't pay that much for the Kibler rifle, maybe $1900.

I might do just that. Very hard to find a rifle right now, and when I call builders they are booked years out. I guess everyone wants a new rifle like I do!

 

[SDSmlf]

I’m not experienced enough to know if this is a quality carving job or if it is rough… honestly it looks a little rough to me.

You have kind of answered your own question. Looks like a first attempt gun by someone that they should be proud of, but no where near a $3600 gun in my opinion. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, but fear you lack the skills to put one together yourself, pay Kibler the $700 to assemble one in the white for you. Then all you have to do is apply finish for a beautiful gun. A gun you could get hour money back out of. I’ve seen a number of Kiblers for sale that I honestly wouldn’t buy for the same money Kibler sells his unassembled kits for. If you look close you will find buggered up screws, chips/splits in the wood, little things that make you wonder what other treasures are hidden. Saw one at a show in Virginia that you actually could see bedding compound showing in a few places. Guy selling it got nervous as we’re looking it over. When I asked if I could pick it up, was told no. Believe seller wanted $4k. Wouldn’t have paid more than $700 for it, figuring that an entire new stock would be required.

 

[Steve Martin]

No way! Certainly not $3,600.

 

[Rangefogger]

You have kind of answered your own question. Looks like a first attempt gun by someone that they should be proud of, but no where near a $3600 gun in my opinion. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, but fear you lack the skills to put one together yourself, pay Kibler the $700 to assemble one in the white for you. Then all you have to do is apply finish for a beautiful gun. A gun you could get hour money back out of. I’ve seen a number of Kiblers for sale that I honestly wouldn’t buy for the same money Kibler sells his unassembled kits for. If you look close you will find buggered up screws, chips/splits in the wood, little things that make you wonder what other treasures are hidden. Saw one at a show in Virginia that you actually could see bedding compound showing in a few places. Guy selling it got nervous as we’re looking it over. When I asked if I could pick it up, was told no. Believe seller wanted $4k. Wouldn’t have paid more than $700 for it, figuring that an entire new stock would be required.

I have a couple of kibler SMRs that I built myself, and I’m very happy with the way they turned out. Only thing is I’m looking for a fancier rifle with carving and whatnot, but I am not experienced enough in carving to comfortably try it on a 1200-1400 dollar kit.

here’s my kibler.

 

[SDSmlf]

I have a couple of kibler SMRs that I built myself, and I’m very happy with the way they turned out. Only thing is I’m looking for a fancier rifle with carving and whatnot, but I am not experienced enough in carving to comfortably try it on a 1200-1400 dollar kit.

here’s my kibler.

Looks good. Not comfortable you could fancy up a $1200-$1400 kit? Bet by the time you were on your third attempt you would be pretty good and have three guns for your $3600.

Another option is to contact Mike Brooks for some lessons. He was offering lessons for $150 a day a while back, assume he still is, though I don’t know his current price. Have Mike work with you for a few days or a week on a gun and you would really have something. Doubt the cost of everything, gun included, would exceed $3600. And you would learn a real skill.

 

[SDSmlf]

Another option is to contact Mike Brooks for some lessons. He was offering lessons for $150 a day a while back, assume he still is, though I don’t know his current price. Have Mike work with you for a few days or a week on a gun and you would really have something. Doubt the cost of everything, gun included, would exceed $3600. And you would learn a real skill.

Here you go.
https://mikebrooksflintlocks.com/learn/

 

[PathfinderNC]

The rifle looks quite nice to me. I do wish I could do the metal engraving this builder can do.
Prices and assigned values are subjective, naturally. Someone may indeed be very happy with that price. Others not. That’s the nature of a market.
I will say this, though: I would be quite surprised if I was the builder offering this gun for sale and saw this thread.

 

[Rangefogger]

The rifle looks quite nice to me. I do wish I could do the metal engraving this builder can do.
Prices and assigned values are subjective, naturally. Someone may indeed be very happy with that price. Others not. That’s the nature of a market.
I will say this, though: I would be quite surprised if I was the builder offering this gun for sale and saw this thread.

I do agree the the metal engraving is fantastic! I don’t know what you mean by saying you’d be surprised… is it surprising that I wanted to hear more educated opinions than my own on whether this rifle is worth 3600.00 before I spent two weeks pay on it? Isn’t the point of this forum to spread knowledge about muzzleloaders? Especially to people who are relatively new to such things? Never did I mention a builder, or insult anyone so I don’t think there is much to be “surprised” about. I never said this was a bad rifle, and If I were the builder of this rifle I would not find it offensive to hear what people have to say about it. However I’m Sorry if I offended you, it was not my intention!

 

[D.Summers]

! agree with PathfinderNC! Nice gun, but a mite pricy to me. But maybe it's worth it to someone!!