TVM - Tenn Valley ML - Question

[frogwalking]

http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles01.htm
Jim Chambers rifle kits. These are as good as they come, and to your door, $965.00.

Here is a York County kit that I built which shows their standard maple.



And a 50 yd. 5 shot group.

 

[Critter Getter]

Being left handed does present a challenge to you here I see. I agree with some of the others here. Save your dimes and buy what you REALLY want. Over the next 20 years of enjoying your new rifle you will never kick yourself for buying quality but might regret not having what you really want that a custom can give you. Greg.

 

[Micah Clark]

That's pretty . . . very good shooting too. My problem with Jim Chambers is that I don't think he does a small caliber
(32) in left hand. I think Chambers kits are the best.

 

[kaintuck]

Have you called Jim or Barbie?......you know what you want, go after that.....barrel swaps with a "kit" can be done.....charley Burton can match any barrel dimensions made.....then sell the original barrel on fleabay and use the Burton barrel......by the way, HIS barrels are more accurate than normal!

Call Jim chambers......or tip, or Dave keck at knob mountain....
Marc n tomtom

 

[Tom Compton]

I sure understand the budget issue. Over 30 years ago (1983) I knew who would build my .40 flinter (personal friend, record setting shooter and master gun builder Tom Gillman). Discussed with him the style LOP etc I wanted - SMR. then I bought components as budget would allow - stock from Track, Douglas barrel, Cochran lock, trigger guard and butt plate etc. and took them to Tom and gave him $100. As I could I sent another $100. Whet completed I only owed a little and got a GREAT rifle.

I know TVM and others cannot do business this way, just saying there's a way but don't settle for less than you want due to budget.

By the way, that SMR and I won the Flint Agg last week at the Texas MLRA matches. Quality lasts and IMO is cheap on the long run.
TC

 

[hanshi]

Flys (or is it flies) are necessary for double set triggers. With single triggers the fly can sometimes drop too low and "catch" as the cock falls. I simply removed this one. Another single trigger gun is not hampered at all by the lock having a fly.

 

[Micah Clark]

I am not familiar with Knob Mountain. Thanks for mentioning them, I am researching everyone I can find. . .It can be a bit frustrating but I am learning a lot but I think I'm becoming obsessed with this, too !!!

 

[Dean2]

I am not familiar with Knob Mountain. Thanks for mentioning them, I am researching everyone I can find. . .It can be a bit frustrating but I am learning a lot but I think I'm becoming obsessed with this, too !!!

Research is good and knowing exactly what you want helps that research effort a lot. There is however a thing called analysis paralysis. You never finish analysing so you never pull the trigger. The great thing about guns is if the first one you buy isn't perfect you can always re-sell it and get another.

With all the guns to look at, handle and check for fit, plus all the expertise at Friendship, if you can't come to conclusion while you are there I fear you may still be doing this next year at Friendship.

My method is to buy and try until I find the perfect long term keeper, and sell off the rest. You can assemble a real nice collection that way while still having the fun of trying and shooting lots of other guns.

 

[Micah Clark]

My advisor builder (not sure if he will build for me, but he has agreed to oversee and help me) is still in Friendship through today. I will talk to him later this week. He may advise that we buy a stock from Petonica, direct buy a rice barrel, chambers lock, davis trigger, etc. If so, I'll need to talk to the stock supplier and let him know what lock barrel and trigger to inlet for me. That would cut out some of the middle fees, some want to add to their kit.
BTW, I'd probably go with the large slier since its common and probably easy for a stock supplier to inlet, but I have been looking at an L&R catalog I picked up and they have a couple of left hand lock options that I really like too, such as their Manton and Classic. . slightly different rounded pan and a "waterproof" pan - if that's possible within reason.

 

[hanshi]

In case this could be of interest to you I'll mention that for my .32 I called Jason at Rice Barrels and described what I was hoping for in a barrel. He suggested his Rice "transition" barrel which is 38" with round bottom grooves and is "A" weight swamped. It made for a feathery light rifle. In fact if I'd known it would be this light I "might" have opted for a 42" barrel. I also got a Chambers late Ketland flint lock. These were sent to Matt to be used in my rifle. I also asked Matt to use brass mounts rather than iron; my .36 SMR is iron (steel, actually) mounted and I wanted something different. Also specified was a "honey" stain and it did pop the stripes out nicely. I'd bet a slightly darker stain would have done it even better.

 

[Micah Clark]

That's good advice on the "analysis paralysis." I'll watch for that, and its certainly possible. I was very close to buying at Friendship . . . and have wished that I had done so. . but a phone call next week to some of these folks can change all that.

What I think is the most paralyzing for me may be the leap of faith in building. Some times, I say to myself, I have the tools, I have some woodworking experience, heck, I even have a British sports car that I've disassembled and reassembled over the last 30 years. . . but then I think, what am I doing? I think the metal block is that I've spent a lot of time in the wood shop with a lot of power tools, but my time with an actual chisel and file seems to be almost zero in my mind.

 

[Micah Clark]

I was really impressed with the Rice barrel folks. . . they are my choice for .32. I expect that I will talk with them again. . perhaps first if I piece together things. You gotta pic of that 32 in a 36 inch barrel ? Maybe I saw it on another thread.

 

[Critter Getter]

Since you have a friend/ builder that is willing to over see your build you can be at ease with attempting your rifle. After I researched everything and bought my Pecatonica kit and had every intention of building it last winter, I chickened out and paid Mike Brooks , a well known builder, to build my gun. In the end he did some nice carvings on the stock that I wouldn't have done and made a heirloom piece that I will keep and then when I am done will be passed down to my son to use to put meat in the freezer for his future family! Greg.

 

[Micah Clark]

Yes, I hope to talk to him in the next few days about this again and see how involved he might be. I may buy parts from various entities rather than a kit if someone like Petonica River will inlet for the barrel I buy. . as they told me at Friendship they may not have any .32 barrels.

I have some woodworking, construction and auto skills, but let's be honest, how often do we use files and chisels when working on a house or car repair ? I can't recall the last time I used a file or chisel. . .I'd bet I've used a radial arm saw or table saw or a nail gun 50 times for every once, I've used a chisel. that's one of my mental hurdles.

 

[Dewey]

More reason to go for a finished gun, or at least a mostly finished in the white.

 

[hanshi]

The .32 in question has a 38" barrel. I seem to recall posting a pic of my .45 which has a 36" barrel. I like the 38" length.

 

[Mickc01]

http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles01.htm
Jim Chambers rifle kits. These are as good as they come, and to your door, $965.00.

Here is a York County kit that I built which shows their standard maple.



And a 50 yd. 5 shot group.

Very nice rifle, Frogwalking. Great job building it....Mick C

 

[garra]

Beautiful job. I was looking at that kit or an Isaac Haines in 40. If I ever feel confident enough for a kit, Chambers is the best IMO.

 

[Micah Clark]

In case this could be of interest to you I'll mention that for my .32 I called Jason at Rice Barrels and described what I was hoping for in a barrel. He suggested his Rice "transition" barrel which is 38" with round bottom grooves and is "A" weight swamped. It made for a feathery light rifle. In fact if I'd known it would be this light I "might" have opted for a 42" barrel. I also got a Chambers late Ketland flint lock. These were sent to Matt to be used in my rifle. I also asked Matt to use brass mounts rather than iron; my .36 SMR is iron (steel, actually) mounted and I wanted something different. Also specified was a "honey" stain and it did pop the stripes out nicely. I'd bet a slightly darker stain would have done it even better.

I spoke to TVM on the phone today. What I am looking at pretty much is all covered in the kit. (Late Lancaster) The rice barrel costs a little more in .32 in 42 inch, but I still think for a first time kit builder, TVM is really hard to beat because of the things they do as part of their basic kit price.

Inching closer to pulling the trigger and getting excited about it. Would like a stock with more (or any) curl, hoping basic sugar maple will stain pretty, but it's like my dad used to say about deer hunting - you can't eat antlers. Curl looks nice, but this will be my squirrel hunting rifle. . . all wood grades shoot the same. . .and the reason I am going custom is for a good, LH, tack driver. Thanks for all your advice.

 

[Snakebite]

I've always had really good customer service from TVM.