THE WAIT BEGINS!

[Smokey Plainsman]

GANG, I DID IT.

This is a red letter day for me. After months of careful research and deliberation, often with the help of the members here answering my numerous questions, I finally submitted the completed draft of my order form to Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading for one of their Tennessee rifles.

AND I WENT FLINT. :shocked2:

Guys, many of you may know me as a percussion shooter by trade and one very interested in the traditional caplock rifles... but when the time came... I decided to go with a Jim Chamber’s Late Ketland lock for my gun.

Why? Well if you’ve spent any time at all on this forum or at rondys or shoots, you’ll constantly here how much more fun and satisfying flintlocks are. I HAVE to know what they’re all about... why they’re so coveted, why the guys who shoot them have so much pride and often say they gave up caplocks completely after going flint.

So guys, I’m doing this. I’m going flint, both feet head first I am STOKED to join the brotherhood of flintsman!!! :thumbsup:

Here is what I ordered from TVM:

Tennessee rifle “poor boy”
Browned iron mountings
Premium maple stock
No end cap, side plate, or entry pipe. A simple basic southern mountain type gun.
Asked for a grease hole in the stock and a shorter LOP that is right for me.
.40 caliber swamped A weight barrel, 42” long.
Brown finish to the wood.

This will be a dream come true when the rifle is done and on its way to me! Currently deploying to Afghanistan so this will be a nice thing to come back to for sure.

I want to thank each and every person who helped me on my journey for my first personalized gun. I’ll be sharing lots of photos when I get it, and range reports too!!

Have a great day, guys!! :hatsoff:

-Smokey

 

[wattlebuster]

Thank you for your service. Congrats on your rifle. You will have a fine time with it im sure :thumbsup:

 

[bender20]

Stay safe. Thanks for your service. It still means a lot to a lot of us.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Yes, be safe and THANK YOU! PM me a mailing address in the States and I’ll send you some supplies to get a flint shooter started out!

 

[BullRunBear]

Smokey, As the others have said, thank you and stay safe.

You're going to love that TVM. My retirement present was a TVM Late Lancaster flinter. I treasure it.

Jeff

 

[Redstick Lee]

Thank you for your service !

You'll surely enjoy your new rifle upon your return.

Keep your eyes open and watch your 6

 

[William O.]

Congrats! I did the same thing in late 2016 for an early Virginia rifle. Wait time was going to be one year but after 9 months they contacted me and said it was ready! Perfectly timed too as it was just before my birthday when it arrived. You will be pleased and it's worth the wait. Meanwhile, keep yourself safe.

 

[hthomso]

Sounds like a good coming home present. You will love it. Post some photos. In the meantime, keep your head down. :thumbsup:

 

[smo]

Congrats on the new rifle. :thumbsup:

Stay aware, & Thank You for your service. :hatsoff:

 

[Dr5x]

Smokey,
Good Luck overseas.. Been there, done that
but it was a better time.
My prayers go out to all of you.

Dutch Schoultz

.

 

[Katahdin]

Next ,,PATIENCE Grasshopper

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Smokey,
Good Luck overseas.. Been there, done that
but it was a better time.
My prayers go out to all of you.

Dutch Schoultz

.

Thank you, Dutch! I have your book and can’t wait to try it with my new rifle.

Thanks to everyone else, too!!

 

[rafterob]

More fun yes, because there is more to tinker with and just something really neat about the flintlock ignition. It sure is a lot easier to just put a cap on the nipple and pull the trigger to make boom though.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Guys I called TVM today and spoke with Melanie. SUPER nice and helpful person!! I made my down payment and went over some of the specifications with her. Now it’s a waiting game, but how fun will it be when I get it!! Going to have plenty of time to read and learn about flintlocks in the meantime.

I just can’t believe this is really happening!! I can’t wait!! :hatsoff:

 

[Dave Marsh]

Thanks for your service and stay safe. Switching to flint will prove to be the correct decision.

Dave

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thank you! I’m hoping it is.

 

[Cowboy]

First off, like the others have said, I too want to thank you for your service to our great nation!

I would like to also humbly add that it’s fantastic that you’ve decided to broaden your horizons when it comes to shooting traditional muzzleloader’s and all the other aspects that it intells. In the beginning of my journey I too was strictly a percussion shooter. Again, like you I had decided to give flintlocks a try? They are truly an absolute joy to shoot!!

I will add , as for me the percussion rifle has not taken second fiddle to the flintlock. I spend a lot of time shooting both equally. What ever tickles my fancy for the day depends on what I take. It’s definitely nice to have an open mind and am privileged to have the option to grab either?

God Bless my friend and stay safe over there!

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thank you, Cowboy!! I’ve only ever owned factory European guns, so to have an all American made rifle built to my own specs, is a dream come true and I have wanted a custom gun for years.

 

[Cowboy]

I’m excited for you! The hardest part is the wait. Once you have her in your hands it’s like a million Christmas mornings rolled into one!! :haha:

Of course we’ll anxiously wait with you in anticipation of pics of that beautiful rifle? Sounds like it’s going to be a nice one!

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[MSW]

Glad to hear that you are going with Flint. To paraphrase the little green StarWars fellow, when rocks banged have you, forever will they dominate your range time.

You're gonna love the a-weight .40 cal - just don't go after elk and you'll be fine.

Stay safe in the 'stan ”¦ let nobody tell you otherwise: the object of the exercise is to bring all your guys and yourself home. in one piece. avoid scars (on the outside and the inside)”¦

when you get back, please let us know the best load for the rifle (check out Dutch Schoultz' method for the quickest way to this special place)

good luck!