Tweaking a Kibler Rifle Kit

[PathfinderNC]

I received the Kibler Colonial Flintlock Kit, with a Cherry stock, and started working on it ten days ago.
The assembly went very well- very little needed to be done with the parts; they fit together almost flawlessly. (This saves a lot of time for a builder!)
I decided that I wanted to add some uniqueness to my build so I didn't get the sliding wooden patch box, but decided to install a brass one.
I also did some carving on the rifle and removed quite a bit of wood from the wrist and also the forearm.
After about 40 or 50 hours of work, it's done except for a daily light application and rub-in of Boiled Linseed Oil for the finish.
It is bitter-sweet finishing up this rifle. I like how it looks and handles and am looking forward to shooting it. But I am also sad that the project has been completed and there is no rifle on my work bench tonight.
Maybe a new build is on the horizon....?

 

[kje54]

I received the Kibler Colonial Flintlock Kit, with a Cherry stock, and started working on it ten days ago.
The assembly went very well- very little needed to be done with the parts; they fit together almost flawlessly. (This saves a lot of time for a builder!)
I decided that I wanted to add some uniqueness to my build so I didn't get the sliding wooden patch box, but decided to install a brass one.
I also did some carving on the rifle and removed quite a bit of wood from the wrist and also the forearm.
After about 40 or 50 hours of work, it's done except for a daily light application and rub-in of Boiled Linseed Oil for the finish.
It is bitter-sweet finishing up this rifle. I like how it looks and handles and am looking forward to shooting it. But I am also sad that the project has been completed and there is no rifle on my work bench tonight.
Maybe a new build is on the horizon....?

Nice work!

 

[Rod Man]

I received the Kibler Colonial Flintlock Kit, with a Cherry stock, and started working on it ten days ago.
The assembly went very well- very little needed to be done with the parts; they fit together almost flawlessly. (This saves a lot of time for a builder!)
I decided that I wanted to add some uniqueness to my build so I didn't get the sliding wooden patch box, but decided to install a brass one.
I also did some carving on the rifle and removed quite a bit of wood from the wrist and also the forearm.
After about 40 or 50 hours of work, it's done except for a daily light application and rub-in of Boiled Linseed Oil for the finish.
It is bitter-sweet finishing up this rifle. I like how it looks and handles and am looking forward to shooting it. But I am also sad that the project has been completed and there is no rifle on my work bench tonight.
Maybe a new build is on the horizon....?

Wow!!! In 10 days!!! That obviously wasn't your first rodeo, how long have you been building traditional muzzleloaders? I have been kicking the idea around to give it a shot, but I know nothing and I "know" I know nothing and this causes me to be somewhat hesitant. Nice Job Sir!

 

[PathfinderNC]

Wow!!! In 10 days!!! That obviously wasn't your first rodeo, how long have you been building traditional muzzleloaders? I have been kicking the idea around to give it a shot, but I know nothing and I "know" I know nothing and this causes me to be somewhat hesitant. Nice Job Sir!

Thanks and when you do decide to do a build, don't hesitate to ask here (or anywhere) for support, ideas, suggestions and so forth. My first build was over 30 years ago, component parts from Pecatonica River, and I had no access to any help other than figuring it out more or less by myself. I have only built 5 or six so I am no authority on this stuff! We all start at the beginning, something to remember

 

[PathfinderNC]

Nice work!

Thank you!

 

[forty_caliber]

Great job! My Kibler kit arrived late yesterday but I'm not going to do anything that fancy. Just straight up assembly and finish. I won't have time to even take it out of the box until Saturday....can hardly wait.

.40

 

[erhunter]

Great job Pathfinder! I love the carving and inlays.

 

[pilot]

Very nice! What did you use for the color?

 

[PathfinderNC]

Great job! My Kibler kit arrived late yesterday but I'm not going to do anything that fancy. Just straight up assembly and finish. I won't have time to even take it out of the box until Saturday....can hardly wait.

.40

Thanks and Enjoy your Kibler build- it's very rewarding!

 

[PathfinderNC]

Great job Pathfinder! I love the carving and inlays.

Thanks erhunter!

 

[PathfinderNC]

Very nice! What did you use for the color?

Thanks- I used a combination of dye powders. A pinch of this and a pinch of that. Use test wood of the same species (Cherry).

 

[Rod Man]

Great job! My Kibler kit arrived late yesterday but I'm not going to do anything that fancy. Just straight up assembly and finish. I won't have time to even take it out of the box until Saturday....can hardly wait.

.40

^ yeah, that's what I am thinking, just to get my feet wet that 1st time.

 

[M. De Land]

^ yeah, that's what I am thinking, just to get my feet wet that 1st time.

NIce work, I am really enjoying looking at the carving work done of late by some builders. This carving thing is one area I am interested in exploring as I have never yet tried it. If you want more work to enjoy then a TOTW kit will provide it as the furniture comes in as cast form that needs trimmed , final shaped and polished. The barrel, loading rod channel and lock mortises are cut reasonably close so that part is pretty well established but all the rest is on the builder. I too really enjoyed the build and the rifle shoots very well.

 

[PathfinderNC]

NIce work, I am really enjoying looking at the carving work done of late by some builders. This carving thing is one area I am interested in exploring as I have never yet tried it. If you want more work to enjoy then a TOTW kit will provide it as the furniture comes in as cast form that needs trimmed , final shaped and polished. The barrel, loading rod channel and lock mortises are cut reasonably close so that part is pretty well established but all the rest is on the builder. I too really enjoyed the build and the rifle shoots very well.

I have gotten all my others from Pecatonica. Excellent stocks. The son (Gary?) there told me they supply TOTW with socks.

 

[Doc Ivory]

I'm SO anxious for my Kibler Colonial kit to arrive

 

[oldwood]

Very nice , hope you build many more

 

[Art Caputo]

Very nicely done!!! I have high admiration for those with carving talent. I recently completed a Kibler Colonial. I had major trepidation, and struggled to carve the simple the thumb notch on the sliding patch box cover!

 

[hanshi]

That's a beautiful rifle by any measure! You did a splendid job on that build.

 

[Spikebuck]

Two comments:

1. Very, very nice job on the rifle. A big Great job on your personalizations!

2. Your workbench makes me want to puke it is so clean!!!

 

[PathfinderNC]

Two comments:

1. Very, very nice job on the rifle. A big Great job on your personalizations!

2. Your workbench makes me want to puke it is so clean!!!

Thanks for your comments and for a big laugh