Traditions Kentucky rifle kit build questions

[formernuke]

I've been wanting a flintlock rifle and got a free rifle kit.

The wood has been stained already and both the outside of the barrel and the plate where the flint strikes have some surface rust.

I fitted everything together and it fits, but I'm concerned about where the barrel meets the back of the stock.

Has anyone done one of these kits?

What do I need to do in order to make this a fully functional rifle?

 

[RobertIN]

From what I can see you need sights, a flint/leather, and maybe a ramrod. The spot where the barrel meets the back of the stock is called the breech, and the tongue is called the tang. That needs tightened up but if it doesn't want to go you might need to clean up the inletting. Show us an overview of that area and we can help out further. Don't worry about the surface rust steel wool will take it right off.

That's not too shabby of a stock for a traditions kit, I dig the grain and color.

 

[stubshaft]

Yup, it looks like the barrel/breech is sitting too high in the stock.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

The breech should be sitting up against the wood and the top of the tang should be down in the wood not sitting above it. You also have quite a lot of wood that needs to come off down the forestock, that top edge should be rounded over not square like it is.

 

[formernuke]

They did a good staining job, I'll have to see how much of it is left after I'm done sanding.

The ramrod is there i just didn't install it because I was dry fitting the actual rifle.

Whats the leather mentioned above for?

 

[RobertIN]

They did a good staining job, I'll have to see how much of it is left after I'm done sanding.

The ramrod is there i just didn't install it because I was dry fitting the actual rifle.

Whats the leather mentioned above for?

It's padding for the flint while in the jaws, just helps hold it in there and give the jaws a better grip

 

[bldtrailer]

a flint 5/8 square #40 pocket drill for patching, 490 ball and powder

ram rod
the above was a kit given to me by my son put together for grandson100yrd sight in target after working up a load (65grns swiss3f #40 pocket drill 490 ball tallow lube) the high and right then move sights to hit center not a bad starter rifle. the lock not so great, but Brad at cabin creek muzzleloaders can tune/fix the lock to work right

 

[formernuke]

Any tips for best way to remove the wood without taking to much off, and what should I seal it with?

 

[RobertIN]

File and sandpaper, or of your comfortable you can scrape it with a sharp scraping tool. I used Tru-oil on my traditions, oil and wax on nicer things with higher grade wood.

 

[formernuke]

File and sandpaper, or of your comfortable you can scrape it with a sharp scraping tool. I used Tru-oil on my traditions, oil and wax on nicer things with higher grade wood.

Is true oil clear? With the sanding I need to do I'm pretty sure I will need to restain it.

 

[RobertIN]

Yes it is and you'll defined to restain it. Try to get all of it off, or at least get it as even as possible before restaining.

 

[formernuke]

Yes it is and you'll defined to restain it. Try to get all of it off, or at least get it as even as possible before restaining.

All depends on how it looks once the sanding is done.