TVM Rifle Question

[horsecavalryman]

I have a chance to get a new TVM flintlock rifle. With that said, does anyone here have any experience with them?

If so, what are your thoughts and recommendations?

I give up on asking anyone on this forum to talk me out of the purchase. You people failed me miserably on the Howdah pistol.

So I might as well come here looking for a reason to get another muzzleloader.

Enfield 58, I've had an Early Virginia and really liked it. Very well crafted and got it from an officer of American Mountain Men Association. Mine was 36" 50cal. very handy for Horseback use.

Matt Avance on left with red neck cloth.

 

[Yewbender]

TVM (Matt Avance)makes a representation of a style and not an exact copy(HC/PC) and they don’t claim to....so...i will tell you i love both my TVM flinters!

I have a .36cal southern poorboy 42” barrel but upgraded the stock to curly maple. The gun is a tack driver and is a great looking flinter. The other is a .62 Smoothbore Fowler 42” oct to round barrel with super premium +++ curly maple. This is also a great shooter but more work to be done with roundballs when i find time.

I go to several woods walks and black powder shoots and i have many ask about my guns. I let them handle, inspect, and shoot them and i never got a negative responce. I also shoot with several others who have TVM flinters and they love them.

If your not worried about a true copy you will not go wrong with TVM. They are also very nice and helpfull to deal with. You can go on their website and look at the different styles and read their description on the gun. Also they will answer any questions you have. Hope this helps.

 

[Snakebite]

I have a .54 Late Lancaster from TVM. It has a swamped barrel. I'm very happy with it, they gave me exactly what I asked for at a very reasonable price. I said plain maple but the stock they used has some nice curl to it. I would not hesitate about getting another one of their rifles.

 

[MC One Shot]

I have an Early Lancaster in a .50. It has been put together very well and has the deluxe grade maple. The lock has been always been reliable and fast. It shots very well and as long as I do my part keeps me in the top end. I have no trouble recommending them...

 

[ScottE]

TVM makes a good dependable, attractive rifle and fowling piece. The issue, which is often overlooked, is the use of a Siler Germanic lock for a gun that should have an English styled lock. TVM will install as an option a Chamber's lock and swamped barrels.

Is this rifle already built? If it is ready for you to take home and you like what is offered, then go for it. After you tell us some more information such as style, caliber, wood and lock. Then we might want to talk you out of the purchase in order for one of us to get it.

If it is a Pennsylvania style rifle the Siler lock is fine. A large number of the "schools" in 18th century PA were either German immigrants or of Germanic descent.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I have four TVM rifles; .36 Early Lancaster with silver furniture in a deluxe grade stock and swamped barrel, a plain .50 Late Lancaster, a .50 Early Virginia, and a .62 Rifled Fowler. They are all excellent shooters and the personal service provided by Matt and company is exceptional. I am a hunter and a shooter, not a museum curator; TVM rifles are great for my purposes. I will soon order my "last" rifle from them.

 

[Enfield58]

TVM could not swap out barrels with one of the models that I was looking at on their showroom page.

I started to purchase the only .45 caliber rifle that they had in stock but it was sold.

They have a couple of Poor Boy rifles but are in .50 caliber. I could probably get either rifle in that caliber but if I'm going to spend a lot of money for a custom rifle, I might as well get it in the caliber I want.

That's why I'm waffling back and forth between purchasing a Poor Boy in .50 or ordering something that I want in .45 and waiting a year to get it.

This sucks when you are a perfectionist but also thrive on instant gratification.

 

[Pete G]

Do what it takes to get what you want; you will regret it otherwise .

 

[Enfield58]

Do what it takes to get what you want; you will regret it otherwise .

That's why I'm leaning more towards ordering what I want and waiting a year to get it.

 

[Feist Hunter]

Hello, I have a 50 cal Southern rifle I ordered from Jack and Joyce back in the 90`s. Beautiful quality rifle and accurate as heck. The chrome lined barrel is still like new inside. TVM guns are worth waiting for. I think I waited 7 months back then.

 

[Brokennock]

TVM could not swap out barrels with one of the models that I was looking at on their showroom page.

I started to purchase the only .45 caliber rifle that they had in stock but it was sold.

They have a couple of Poor Boy rifles but are in .50 caliber. I could probably get either rifle in that caliber but if I'm going to spend a lot of money for a custom rifle, I might as well get it in the caliber I want.

That's why I'm waffling back and forth between purchasing a Poor Boy in .50 or ordering something that I want in .45 and waiting a year to get it.

This sucks when you are a perfectionist but also thrive on instant gratification.

I'd wait and get exactly what you want. Including anything you might have wanted a little different from the "in stock" rifle you missed.

 

[Enfield58]

I'd wait and get exactly what you want. Including anything you might have wanted a little different from the "in stock" rifle you missed.

My "dream" rifle is the Late Lancaster, deluxe maple stock, red finish, swamped .45 caliber brown-finished barrel, brass furniture and patch box, double-set triggers.
The only question is the lock. Which is the best lock?

 

[LRB]

I would say a Roller, but you might choke at the price. You can't go wrong with a Chambers.

 

[Enfield58]

I would say a Roller, but you might choke at the price. You can't go wrong with a Chambers.

How much better is the Roller over the Chambers?

Their web site only has three upgrades for locks listed over the Siler; Late Ketland, Durs Egg or L&R Manton

 

[Grenadier1758]

The Roller is a much better lock. But you have to find Bob Roller in the mood to make locks or find one in someone's to build box and they want to part with it. I would get the Chamber's lock. These are very good and readily available. It would take precision measuring devices to determine the differences.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I just checked their website. I had no idea they are getting as much for their guns as they do. for a gun with a chambers lock, nice wood, swamped barrel and a wood box you're at $2500 more or less. No carving or engraving. Is that a lot of money these days or a pretty good price? I'm obviously out of touch with the market.
I just sold a new unfired Lehigh with a custom ordered swamped barrel, siler lock, nice wood, wood box, carving behind the tang and on the box lid and surround and engraved sideplates. I evidently gave it away at $2300.

 

[Enfield58]

I just checked their website. I had no idea they are getting as much for their guns as they do. for a gun with a chambers lock, nice wood, swamped barrel and a wood box you're at $2500 more or less. No carving or engraving. Is that a lot of money these days or a pretty good price? I'm obviously out of touch with the market.
I just sold a new unfired Lehigh with a custom ordered swamped barrel, siler lock, nice wood, wood box, carving behind the tang and on the box lid and surround and engraved sideplates. I evidently gave it away at $2300.

Custom guns have always been high. Heck, I was even looking at a custom long bow and with all the embellishments it would cost me almost $1800. And that thing doesn't go bang!

So when you look at the price of productions guns the custom work really isn't that outrageous. DGW sells their Pedersoli Dixie Pennsylvania rifle for $950. Throw in the the costs for shipping and oversize box surcharge and you're up to almost $1000 for that smoke-pole which isn't as nice as a custom muzzleloader made to your specifications.

My NM M-1 Garand cost me about $1000 for the rifle and custom work about 30 years ago. Adjusted for inflation that would be over $2000 now but the last time I looked it would cost about $3000 for a custom M-1. So $2500 for a custom muzzleloader is reasonable. Affordable? Depends; do I want to eat or put the money toward a new vehicle or clothes?

I can pay for the rifle but for the cost, I should get exactly what I want. Their prices are fair but I hate waiting a year to get it.

I guess I should be content with the muzzleloaders I have on hand, for now, and put on my big-boy pants and wait the year to get a custom rifle.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

A year really isn't bad. I have been out as far as 3 years. I stopped taking orders a couple years ago and finally relented when I started getting near a year again. Now I'm out a couple years again and I still pass on about 2/3rds of the work I'm offered. I try and build a spec every other gun or every two guns so I can build what I like instead of what others want, I have a lot of stuff I want to build and I won't be able to do this forever. I would imagine TVM makes oodles of guns every year, I wouldn't be surprised if they had at least 50 guns on their "wait list". They are obviously hitting a market that is in high demand.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

My "dream" rifle is the Late Lancaster, deluxe maple stock, red finish, swamped .45 caliber brown-finished barrel, brass furniture and patch box, double-set triggers.
The only question is the lock. Which is the best lock?

I'd go with a Chambers built Siler for that gun. Even Chambers Late Ketland would be a good lock for a late enough Lancaster.

 

[hanshi]

I own more than one TVM flintlock. I really like mine and they were built to my specifications even when I "pushed the envelope". Their service is second to none and Matt will talk with his customers.

Their guns do not copy the work of any particular builder; they are built in the general style of the area they represent. For instance, Their early Lancaster follows the style of rifles that were produced in that area. But you can get what you want even if it's a bit, let's say "different", and let it go at that. Kinda generic but that's fine. Tastes differ among individuals; so it comes down to personal choice.