TVM Custom build

[roundball]

P.S. As to Alden's not so veiled warnings about TVM remember, by HIS OWN admission, he has never owned, ordered or bought a TVM product. His relentless bashing of TVM is based on second and third hand info only and the primary experience he uses is from Roudball, who has clearly said he likes TVM and Alden is misrepresenting Roundball's experience with them.
Check out this old thread that makes it REALLY clear. TVM

Amen...there are always a few on every forum...just ignore them like we do in everyday society.

I accumulated several Flintlocks built by TVM, they all perform in an outstanding manner, and I sure wouldn't have continued to have them built if they didn’t.
Had a situation with the very first build where they got their hands crossed on work orders, and completely “browned” the metal parts instead of using aged steel as I’d specified.
Called them and they fell all over themselves apologizing, expedited a prepaid return shipping label, corrected everything and got it back to me in 30 days”¦it doesn’t get any better than that.
For that very reason they got all my following business and they’ve all been outstanding.
Here are just a few examples of results I've gotten from them:


.40cal Late Lancaster






.54cal Early Virginia Smoothbore










.58cal Early Virginia






.62cal Early Virginia Smoothbore

 

[kopfjaeger]

Sweet looking flintlocks Roundball. Beautiful stocks. :thumbsup:

 

[Micah Clark]

WOW !!! I'd give my left --- in a velvet sack for a deer like that w a muzzleloader. Incredible pics.

I am looking at a late lancaster from TVM as a kit in .32 for squirrel. . got a Lyman GPR for deer. . not as pretty as your rifle, but a good gun.

 

[roundball]

Flintlocks

Pretty as they are, truth be known, not a one of them takes deer, turkey, squirrel, or dove any better than the collection of T/C Hawken Flintlocks I'd accumulated with various rifled and smoothbore barrels on them.

But when I started hearing what was going to happen to T/C's traditional oriented line of ML's after being bought out by S&W, I was approaching retirement and decided it was now or never to try a few long guns before I 'checked out'...sold off everything T/C & GM I'd accumulated in 10-12 years, had TVM make these, and glad I did for the experience of it.

But bottom line, when a PRB knocks a buck down he doesn't know if it came out of an Early Virginia, a T/C Hawken, a GPR, etc...down is down.
:wink:

 

[Micah Clark]

Well, they are just gorgeous . . .must be premium maple stocks . . . The PRB comes out the same, but your's make for a better picture. (VERY nice deer too.) I kind of feel the same way. I have a Traditions Crockett .32 I am going to sell, add some cash, and I think I am going to buy a TVM kit of their late lancaster in .32. I figure that my being on the edge of 50, I may have 20 years left, Lord willing, with less than average eyes now. . I've found a builder in my town whom I am going to ask tomorrow, if he will oversee my project for me, if I attempt the kit. If so, I will probably pull the trigger on a TVM kit.

 

[tenngun]

Here's what I would order from TVW and the reasons why.....

Tennessee style precarve is a good choice

A "B" weight bbl X42" in .45 cal would be suitable
An "aged" look would also be fine.

Super premium wood is a good choice if there's no carving....w/ carving, it's a distraction.

How red do you want it? Red color can be sorta tricky.

A Siler flintlock isn't a good choice for your chosen style...not HC. A chambers' Late Ketland is the way to go.

14-1/4" LOP is for a pretty big, long armed guy....you already have rifles w/ that long a LOP?

Brass furniture isn't correct for your chosen style.....use "iron".

Never had any use for a vent pick, but that would be your choice.

A Chambers' "White Lightning" TH liner would yield better ignition...if you don't object to the SS circle.

"It's your rifle, so do w/ it what you will" is common advice, but as long as you're having a LR built, have it built correctly {HC}......Fred

Pretty much agree with all that. I've looked in t these guns alot, unfortanatly most of my reseach was done after my build. There were southren rifles with brass and even silver, but rarer. Back action locks on many of the later ones in precusion. These guns were built well into the 20th cent. Would go without a touchhole liner as they were rare on american flintlocks. I've started doing without them and it works well. If it turns ut you dont like not having one you can always place one later without any trouble.

 

[Alden]

P.S. As to Alden's not so veiled warnings about TVM remember, by HIS OWN admission, he has never owned, ordered or bought a TVM product.

Dean;
I don't know who you're thinking of but you have no idea what you are talking about re: me and what TVM gun(s) I have had made and/or own, but you're wrong. So before you challenge my veracity please work on your reading comprehension.

:shake:

 

[roundball]

Well, they are just gorgeous . . .must be premium maple stocks . . . The PRB comes out the same, but your's make for a better picture. (VERY nice deer too.) I kind of feel the same way. I have a Traditions Crockett .32 I am going to sell, add some cash, and I think I am going to buy a TVM kit of their late lancaster in .32. I figure that my being on the edge of 50, I may have 20 years left, Lord willing, with less than average eyes now. . I've found a builder in my town whom I am going to ask tomorrow, if he will oversee my project for me, if I attempt the kit. If so, I will probably pull the trigger on a TVM kit.

With all those years left to hunt, some food for thought:
The .32cal is an awfully small size caliber with very limited use for hunting.
By contrast a .40cal is a beautiful all around small/medium size game caliber with PRBs, and then excellent on deer with the 200grn REAL conical....overall, the .40 has a lot more hunting flexibility as a result and might be a better investment choice to consider over the tiny .32cal.
But that's just my opinion...

 

[Alden]

BigBuckEye;
Since you have all those pretty pictures of Roundball's guns, please ask for, then insist on, then you'll have to DEMAND from good ol' Matt a bright, focused, photo of your gun and its expensive super expensive premium expensive maple expensive stock and compare it to these BEFORE you pay the balance. Hope not but you may be quite disappointed; come back in six months and let us know how it worked out. M'kay?

Best luck.

 

[BigBuckeye]

DROOLING over those rifles.

 

[bpd303]

It's a shame, but I see another thread being deleted.

 

[BigBuckeye]

BigBuckEye;
Since you have all those pretty pictures of Roundball's guns, please ask for, then insist on, then you'll have to DEMAND from good ol' Matt a bright, focused, photo of your gun and its expensive super expensive premium expensive maple expensive stock and compare it to these BEFORE you pay the balance. Hope not but you may be quite disappointed; come back in six months and let us know how it worked out. M'kay?

Best luck.

I have been trying to give your comments due merit.....however at this point you have provided no real detail other than veiled warnings.

I have been pouring over pictures of TVM rifles and have yet to see or really hear anything that has given me pause. As someone who's livelihood is made in retail manufacturing I can say from experience that properly set expectations are the most important thing in any purchase. I feel my expectations are in line with what they offer. I am fully aware of the quality....and price of top custom rifle manufacturers and am comfortable with what TVM produces.

 

[Micah Clark]

I appreciate that, Cannon, and I've heard great things about .40 calibers . . however, I am fairly certain that where I hunt deer, it must be .45 caliber or better in Missouri and Indiana. . .

Also, I have a Lyman Great Plains flint in .50, which is no TVM, but is nothing to sneeze at either. It's been an outstanding gun for me. . . only complaint I could really think of is that its a bit barrel heavy.

So, thus I turn to a squirrel rifle. I have considered .36. . though having had the Crockett for several years, I feel like I have every thing under the sun for the .32 already. My only other ML's are cap & ball revolvers . . and "She who must be obeyed" thinks I spend too much on my hobbies as is (not sure where she gets THAT idea . . adding a whole other caliber and box of stuff may not fly with the war department.

But I have not made a final decision on any of this YET.

Thanks for the advice !!! I'll think about it.

 

[Micah Clark]

I don't have a dog in this, or a reason to defend TVM . . . I am researching them . . they do seem to have a good reputation for Customer Service, quality parts and staff, and my emails with them have been answered quickly and very helpful.

I am looking at kits, and I've heard they have some of the best and most "pre-work" done, for a new novice builder like me.

However, in looking around, it does seem that their stock upgrades are VERY expensive compared to many others. That did concern, and disappoint me.

 

[BigBuckeye]

Roundball- where are you getting the solid brass ram rods? Must have those for both my rifles.

 

[kh0456]

BigBuckEye, go for the TVM.... You will love it. I bought mine used but wouldn't hesitate to buy from him new. I talked about mine here: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/293154/post/1460004/hl//fromsearch/1/

Since that post I've shot it several times. It's not only a beautiful gun, but amazingly accurate. Before I bought this one I was going to order from him. I live about two hours drive and was all ready to visit the shop. A good friend had already gone to visit Matt and said he was the nicest guy. He has a rather small shop in an old converted house that he made into his shop. I've talked to him a few times. I shoot with a guy that went to school with him. He also says great things about the man. Personally I think his work speaks for him as well.
I most likely will buy another of his rifles and in 50cal I think. I love my .36. Easy on lead and powder. I can shoot all day for next to nothing. I think at the end of that post is a video of me shooting it.
Have fun and don't worry about it. :wink:

 

[roundball]

Roundball- where are you getting the solid brass ram rods? Must have those for both my rifles.

Had my straight solid brass range rods made at RMCsports Outlet...they have a lot of precuts, or you can specify the diameter, custom length, and size of threaded ends for whatever you want. http://www.rmcsports.com/catalog.htm


But for my long guns, a solid 3/8" x 42" brass under-barrel rod was too heavy, so I had October Country use their hard, strong 3/8" tubular brass material (.060” wall thickness) until its length disappeared an inch inside the entry pipes to hold down weight out front.

Then I had them use 3/8" solid brass for the remaining 10-12", so it could be fast tapered on a lathe from 3/8" down to 5/16" so that smaller end would slide under the front lock bolt.
(you'll need to make both of these precise measurements to give to John at October Country)

I joined the sections together using threaded steel like on any good quality jag, with a few drops of red Loc-Tite and they're like a one piece rod...been several years now too.

Had both ends drilled & tapped 10/32" for whatever strong size attachments, T-handle, I wanted to use.

Photo:
2 piece 3/8" tubular + tapered-solid rod section is the top one.
Normal straight 1 piece 3/8" rod is the bottom one.

 

[kopfjaeger]

Johnny Dollar I checked out your link. Sweet looking TVM .36 caliber squirrel rifle. :thumbsup:

 

op:

Rusty, you're funny!

Big...;
Not necessary, just suggesting you take some precaution that what you order is what you pay for and actually get. For comparison, I do not feel compelled to make that recommendation about any other good ol' gun parts assembler by the way...

Emptor cavete TVM!

I agree I bought my first and last TVM a few years ago, PM me if you want details.

 

[Alden]

I don't have a dog in this, or a reason to defend TVM . . .

However, in looking around, it does seem that their stock upgrades are VERY expensive compared to many others. That did concern, and disappoint me.

Now imagine how expensive and disappointing it is when that's not even what you get delivered!

Again, I encourage folk to only buy TVM guns they've handled -- it's a lot harder to be taken advantage of by good ol' boy Matt, bless his soul, then.