TVM kit

[Pete G]

You're in trouble now. Combine that book with a TOW catalog and there is no turning back. :hatsoff:

 

[JohnN]

Just wondering what you meant when you said it was a whole lot better than the Track kit. Better quality or easier to build ?

 

[mike garner]

a LOT easier to build! but the TVM still looks like a good bit of work.

 

[frogwalking]

I have been building muzzle loading firearms for over 50 years. I have some experience with both TOW and TVM. I would not say that TVM's kits are better than TOWs. One can build a good, solid performing firearm from a kit from either of these sources.

 

[Micah Clark]

I have been building muzzle loading firearms for over 50 years. I have some experience with both TOW and TVM. I would not say that TVM's kits are better than TOWs. One can build a good, solid performing firearm from a kit from either of these sources.

I am just finishing my first kit - a TVM - no complaints at all, but I just ordered a Jim Chambers kit. Ever build one of them ? Are they easier than TVM ??

TVM does a good job with the barrel, trigger and lock inlet. . seems as though Chambers may inlet a few more items except the trigger . . .may be a "half dozen of one, 6 of the other" or however the saying goes. . . Thoughts ??? (Settle down my buyer's remorse a bit.)

 

[mike garner]

i have a jager i bought as a kit from track, the stock was not much more than a block of wood that had the shape of a gun stock. the one i have from TVM has most of the shape done and the barrel and tang are fitted perfectly, tracks barrel was not, a huge difference for me.

 

[Micah Clark]

Another thing TVM does, that Chambers does not . . not sure about TOW, Sitting Fox or Petonica. . . on my Late Lancaster, TVM had the touch hole drilled and it lined up perfectly with the pan.

That's why I asked if the Chamber's kit vs TVM is easier to build or about the same as TVM, given different things that each kit maker does.

 

[Pete G]

The only TVM kit I ever saw had a routed ramrod hole. This removes a lot of wood in an already weak area. I would much rather see a drilled hole.

Instead of asking who has the easiest kit you should ask who has the best. The build time will only last for a few hours, but you will live with the gun much longer (hopefully).

 

[Micah Clark]

The only TVM kit I ever saw had a routed ramrod hole. This removes a lot of wood in an already weak area. I would much rather see a drilled hole.

Instead of asking who has the easiest kit you should ask who has the best. The build time will only last for a few hours, but you will live with the gun much longer (hopefully).

That's a good point. I kind of assumed from my own experience with them, that TVM has a good kit. Mine has been a good experience and seems to be quality. I am not sure about the ramrod channel . . . looks drilled, but could be routed.

However, I've often read that Chambers is the best or among the best of the kits. It may be because he copies original rifles.

My TVM has taken me about 10 months, so it is a little more than just a few hours difference. I have taken it slow, worked with a mentor and read tons. That is why I asked about ease of build of the Chambers vs a TVM kit.

I will likely be much more on my own with the Chambers kit than I have been with my TVM (first build). . so ease is not just a question I ask for comfort, as much as it is insurance for a good gun build by an amateur.

 

[mike garner]

i have no clue what you mean about the ramrod hole? it looks drilled and has plenty of wood...

The only TVM kit I ever saw had a routed ramrod hole. This removes a lot of wood in an already weak area. I would much rather see a drilled hole.

Instead of asking who has the easiest kit you should ask who has the best. The build time will only last for a few hours, but you will live with the gun much longer (hopefully).

 

[frogwalking]

I have built two Chambers kits. A Virginia fowler and an Early York. Both made into very fine guns. Some kits are easier to assemble than others are to build. The Chambers will require drilling and tapping tang and lock bolts as well as locating and installing the flash hole liner. I would not attempt either of these without a drill press, although I have a cheap one. You will need to file the dovetails for the under lugs and rear sight. Because the Chamber's kit may be more difficult to build does not make is a lesser kit. If the builder does his job, the finished rifle will be of better quality and have better historical accuracy than the TVM kit. I say this in reference to the normal TVM kit. I think Matt can provide a fine kit or finished rifle if you are willing to pay the price and wait. Good parts and good craftsmanship are always expensive no matter who provides them.

 

[Black Hand]

The Chambers kit I built was easier (for me) due to the quality of the parts and inletting.

 

[Pete G]

i have no clue what you mean about the ramrod hole? it looks drilled and has plenty of wood...

The only TVM kit I ever saw had a routed ramrod hole. This removes a lot of wood in an already weak area. I would much rather see a drilled hole.

The area between the entry pipe and breech was cut with a 3/8" router bit into what would be the lower barrel flat. They may be different now.

 

[Micah Clark]

I think that is true of my TVM . . . I think this is the internal part around the lock / fore stock area.

 

[Micah Clark]

I have built two Chambers kits. A Virginia fowler and an Early York. Both made into very fine guns. Some kits are easier to assemble than others are to build. The Chambers will require drilling and tapping tang and lock bolts as well as locating and installing the flash hole liner. I would not attempt either of these without a drill press, although I have a cheap one. You will need to file the dovetails for the under lugs and rear sight. Because the Chamber's kit may be more difficult to build does not make is a lesser kit. If the builder does his job, the finished rifle will be of better quality and have better historical accuracy than the TVM kit. I say this in reference to the normal TVM kit. I think Matt can provide a fine kit or finished rifle if you are willing to pay the price and wait. Good parts and good craftsmanship are always expensive no matter who provides them.

This is my understanding too. My TVM tang was inlet / one lock bolt drilled / triggers dropped right into inlet and lock was in with minimal work.

Those are REALLY big deals in terms of getting the majors correct in a rifle that shoots well.

I chose Chambers on a second build because I am not that good at inletting and while I looked again a lot at TVM, I thought I'd try the Chambers kit knowing that the rear entry, a more elaborate fowler butt plate and a few other things were inlet making it cosmetically better looking.

I am nervous about inletting the really long and elaborate fowler trigger guard but that's the one inlet in that particular Chambers' kit.

What concerned me, and I took for granted with the TVM, is that I have heard recently that many Chambers kits are not very well inlet in the breech plug area of the barrel like they used to be.

That being said, I am excited about my next build of a Chambers Penn Fowler. . and I am very happy too with my TVM Late Lancaster. I'd recommend TVM any day of the week. . . great people, good product. . and as a left hander, they had exactly what I wanted.

 

[frogwalking]

I recently saw an original walnut stock only from a Tennessee mountain rifle displayed t the Smokey Mountain Historical Center in Townsend. The stock was displayed in a glass case so I could see down into the barrel channel. The ramrod channel was carved out from underneath the barrel as TVM does it (at least sometimes) rather than drilled as is usually done today. I don't know how prevalent this practice was, but the stock was probably well over a hundred years old, so it was sometimes done "in the old days". One cannot legitimately say that TVM does not make their stocks in a historically correct style, at least not for this reason.