I recently posted that I was thinking about selling one of my 32 Cal.TC Cherokees to finance another gun. Well I found a gentleman who was interested in one of my extra barrels. He showed up and I showed him two brand new in the box kit barrels and three other factory barrels all in excellent condition no rust or pitting at all. He looked at me like I was crazy and said the kit barrels were basically worthless and was absolutely not interested in either of those then tried to really low ball me on the other three so he ended up leaving with no barrel. I was honest on my price for all of the barrels and the condition of each when we talked on the phone. My question is why do folks get bent out of shape about kit barrels. From my research the only difference is the letter K in front of the serial number. I have shot several and they are excellent accuracy wise. Many of the guns being sold are barrels married to stocks that they did not start out with so in my opinion they should not bring a premium price. In the end I have decided to just keep hoarding but was just wondering if any of you folks could shed any extra knowledge on why others look down on these barrels.
-
Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.
We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.
Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103
TC Kit barrel question
- Thread starter Bassdog1
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
No way of knowing why folks do what they do.
As far as "kit" barrels, some people seem to have the idea that the big factories make up their kits using parts that were rejected for production.
I don't agree with this idea at all for what it's worth. Especially when it comes to things like barrels.
As far as "kit" barrels, some people seem to have the idea that the big factories make up their kits using parts that were rejected for production.
I don't agree with this idea at all for what it's worth. Especially when it comes to things like barrels.
I'm with you. My T/C Hawken kit rifle has excellent accuracy.
Some folks are very leery of kit stuff which may have been poorly worked on; especially when the item is not new in the box like yours are.
Guy seems goofy for stating kit barrels were basically worthless and then low balling you for the factory finished barrels. Selling stuff can get very frustrating.
Guy seems goofy for stating kit barrels were basically worthless and then low balling you for the factory finished barrels. Selling stuff can get very frustrating.
Last edited:
My guess is the guy has a neglected barrel in sewer pipe condition on a stock that doesn’t have a K stamped into it. Needs the non kit barrel to pass off gun as factory original and in great shape.
I agree with SDS. It sounds like he just wanted a low ball bargain for a quick turn around. I have an early Renegade kit rifle. Someone else put it together and except for the darker than normal T/C stain color, it looks like a production gun. And it shoots a lot better than I can.
P.S., I'm glad you didn't cave in.
P.S., I'm glad you didn't cave in.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2009
- Messages
- 13,045
- Reaction score
- 7,299
Got a New Englander K gun to do something with this winter. Somebody rounded the corners on the stock but gee golly the barrel is mint. How about that!
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2015
- Messages
- 5,010
- Reaction score
- 3,585
For a gun I was going to shoot, a kit barrel is as good as a factory assembled gun. If I had a factory gun and wanted to keep everything factory, then the K serial number would make a difference. From my perspective the quality of the barrel is the same.
The person you describe sounds like someone who just enjoys being difficult.
The person you describe sounds like someone who just enjoys being difficult.
I was starting to wonder if he knew something that I was missing. I shoot a lot and love these little guns not unusual for me to shoot 100 rounds on a nice day when I got nothing to do. I just bought another factory barrel a couple weeks ago that has a little rough patch in it near the breech when you run a patch through it. Not bad and most people wouldnt even notice it. Shot it the other day at 30 yards from a bench and it is a tack driver like the others I own. I cant tell any difference in any of my barrels they all like about 15 grains of Swiss or Goex 3F and a fairly tight .315 PRB .Appreciate responses I guess I will keep buying every one I find that is reasonably priced
dragnetbill
36 Cal.
I think you answered your own question; if you had accepted his criticism of K barrels as generally held, you may have accepted his low-ball offer.
I built two TCs from kit barrels, one was actually in a kit I put together, the other was a NOS Renegade K barrel that I picked up off eBay for $68, Dixon's was selling it. After seeing so many roached out TC barrels it was comforting to me that I was building a random parts Renegade with an unfired pristine barrel. I will go for new every time over a questionable used barrel, I don't care what it has stamped on it.
My $68 barrel with a L&R RPL lock;
My $68 barrel with a L&R RPL lock;
The only difference in the kit barrels is that they are in the white. The inside is no different than a factory built gun. I suspect some K barrels bring less because someone has done a crappy draw filing job on them, which will have no bearing on accuracy but will affect the aesthetics. My TC Hawken kit rifle shoots better than I can anymore (bifocals suck). I think it looks better than the factory guns as well for what it's worth. I think the guy was just trying to rip you off. Glad to hear you didn't fall for it.
The two NOS barrels I offered him were factory blued with factory sights an ramrod. they are getting hard to find so when I see one i usually buy it if it is reasonable. I would like to use one of them and find a builder to do a custom build with a different type of lock and a fancier stock some day.
The barrels in the older kits were in the white, the later ones were blued. My barrels were pre warning and in the white.
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2015
- Messages
- 3,068
- Reaction score
- 1,044
Had a TC Hawken Kit with the barrel in the white and K with serial number. Was also prewarning. Was an earlier kit.
Also built a TC Hawken Kit with the barrel factory blued with no K prefix before the serial number. Also had HAWKEN stamped on the right side of the flats. Had the QLA as well.
Tang bolt screwed into the trigger guard. New style hammer on the lock.
This kit was apparently one of their last that they offered.
Respectfully, Cowboy
Also built a TC Hawken Kit with the barrel factory blued with no K prefix before the serial number. Also had HAWKEN stamped on the right side of the flats. Had the QLA as well.
Tang bolt screwed into the trigger guard. New style hammer on the lock.
This kit was apparently one of their last that they offered.
Respectfully, Cowboy
shdwlkr
40 Cal.
The person that didn't want your kit barrels was correct in the fact the serial number started with a K instead a number which in his mind made them less valuable. Other than that letter in the beginning of the serial number there is no difference in the quality of the barrel. You were correct in not letting his misinformation letting you sell for less than fair value.
I still got them shot for a few hours this evening and could not be any happier with them. I have an extra barrel that I am thinking of having re-bored to 40 cal since I have extras and hopefully it will be as much fun to shoot.
Similar threads
- Locked
