Yet Another Kibler Longrifles Kit Build...

[MSW]

that's one great looking rifle!

 

[Flintandsteel]

Troy,
Not that skilled, it was off a bench.

I sent you a PM about Blythe.

 

[pooch156]

The Southern Mountain Rifle kit I ordered from Kibler Longrifles has shipped; it should arrive in a couple of days. Meanwhile I've been clearing a workbench for it, getting the necessary tools together, sharpening my chisels, etc. One thing I was lacking is a proper gun maker's vise, with soft swivel jaws.

So I decided to modify my favorite old beast of a bench vise, using whatever I had laying around the shop. I drilled and tapped the tops of its jaws for 3/8" bolts, cut up a scrap chunk of Douglas fir 4x4 for the swivel jaws, and drilled half-inch holes in them. I slipped the bolts into pieces of vinyl tubing, ran them thru the jaws with washers at either end, and screwed the new jaws onto the top of the original ones. The vinyl bushings worked out well. They provide a little grab, to keep the jaws from swiveling about needlessly.

Right now, the opening between the jaws is only 2 1/4". If that turns out not to be enough when the gun gets here, I have plenty of meat I can cut off them to widen it. Finally I'll glue a layer of leather on the face of each jaw, and should be good to go.

3/8" sounds small, but those are grade 5 bolts. I'm sure they'll handle whatever clamping pressures are needed for working on the rifle. And as a bonus, I can grab a ratchet and socket, remove the wood jaws in a New York minute, and use the vise in its original configuration.
View attachment 42180

I like it.

 

[olddoggy2]

Looks great Troy. Are you going to draw file that barrel or leave it as is? One thing I do like about the Kibler is that little washer leaves the panel free for you to add any southern style side plate you like... Here's what I did on mine.

View attachment 42873

Bob, can I ask what stain and Finnish you used?

 

[Bob McBride]

Bob, can I ask what stain and Finnish you used?

Yes sir. Tannic Acid under Aqua Fortis, rubbed back for contrast then topped with Laurel Mountain Forge Lancaster Maple for pop. Topped with Bone Black to darken low rub areas and then finished with Jim Chamber’s Stock Finish. You can see a very similar process on Jim Kibler’s YouTube channel in his series on finishing both his kits.

It seems we’re both up early this morning. I’m headed to the deer stand with the bow.

 

[Two Feathers]

Howdy:
Don't even get me started on the ineptitude of the USPS! In a year, it's been nothing but looong delayed deliveries, with a Pi s - and prayer promise from them. It got to the point that I thought I'd have to go out of business from 3 week ship times?
It looks like it's getting a little better?
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[troy2000]

I wasn't sure which forum this is appropriate for, so I decided, "what the heck. I'll just add it to the continuing saga of my Kibler SMR".

I don't have a case for this gun, so I've been wrapping it in a blanket or quilt before tossing it in the back of my Grand Cherokee. That's kind of iffy - because aside from the other gun cases, folding chairs, the ironing board I use for a shooting bench, my ice chest and all the other junk I tote along when we go shooting, my dog likes to roam around on top of everything in the vehicle. My to-do list includes making a nice custom wood case for it, but that's in the middle of a pretty long list. I noticed a couple of weeks ago that Jim Kibler offers a soft case for $45.00, but when I tried to order it this evening it's out of stock.

Then I had an epiphany: my SMR kit came in a long and sturdy wooden box, that I stashed instead of tossing. So This evening I dug it out, laid my SMR in it, and waddaya know: it fits as though whoever designed the box preplanned that very thing.

So it looks like I'm going to be buying egg crate foam, and some combination of brass hinges and/or latches. And of course spending time sanding and finishing...

Was going to post a pic of the rifle laying in the box. But my phone is still screwed up, and I got tired of fighting it.

 

[troy2000]

removed an accidental quote; apparently I can edit but not delete a posted msg.

 

[Troyfairweather]

Ya even there boxes are nice lol.I've been trying to save up for a kibler but I'm failing to do so, I just picked up a 1851 colt for $100 so that doesn't help with saving.

 

[troy2000]

Ya even there boxes are nice lol.I've been trying to save up for a kibler but I'm failing to do so, I just picked up a 1851 colt for $100 so that doesn't help with saving.

Don't see how you could've turned that down.

My niece's husband has been waffling between buying an 1851 Navy or an 1860 Army model, and whether to go .36 or.44. Personally, I'm partial to the looks of the 1851. And supposedly, a lot of cavalrymen back in the day preferred the .36 because of the lighter recoil...

 

[Troyfairweather]

Don't see how you could've turned that down.

My niece's husband has been waffling between buying an 1851 Navy or an 1860 Army model, and whether to go .36 or.44. Personally, I'm partial to the looks of the 1851. And supposedly, a lot of cavalrymen back in the day preferred the .36 because of the lighter recoil...

This one is just brass but it's a unopened kit from the 80s I believe so will be a fun small project. Is stock with 36 on them, not like you need a bigger ball or more power. Cheaper to shoot as well.

 

[Capnball]

The Southern Mountain Rifle kit I ordered from Kibler Longrifles has shipped; it should arrive in a couple of days. Meanwhile I've been clearing a workbench for it, getting the necessary tools together, sharpening my chisels, etc. One thing I was lacking is a proper gun maker's vise, with soft swivel jaws.

So I decided to modify my favorite old beast of a bench vise, using whatever I had laying around the shop. I drilled and tapped the tops of its jaws for 3/8" bolts, cut up a scrap chunk of Douglas fir 4x4 for the swivel jaws, and drilled half-inch holes in them. I slipped the bolts into pieces of vinyl tubing, ran them thru the jaws with washers at either end, and screwed the new jaws onto the top of the original ones. The vinyl bushings worked out well. They provide a little grab, to keep the jaws from swiveling about needlessly.

Right now, the opening between the jaws is only 2 1/4". If that turns out not to be enough when the gun gets here, I have plenty of meat I can cut off them to widen it. Finally I'll glue a layer of leather on the face of each jaw, and should be good to go.

3/8" sounds small, but those are grade 5 bolts. I'm sure they'll handle whatever clamping pressures are needed for working on the rifle. And as a bonus, I can grab a ratchet and socket, remove the wood jaws in a New York minute, and use the vise in its original configuration.
View attachment 42180

Do post pics. If I do a kit it will absolutely be a Kibler.
Neil