Maybe it’s for the same reason that I was resistant, fear that the kit would be to hard to build. My career involved computer programming, not woodworking, carving, or machinist skills. If you fit into this group of inexperienced muzzleloader lovers, than I may have the answer you have been looking for.
Jim Kibler’s rifle kits. These kits are made using CNC machines that carve the stock very precisely so that assembly is as easy as possible. The lock and some of the other hardware is also made on CNC machines. Plus Jim has recorded YouTube video’s to show you exactly what to do, step by step.
So far Jim has 2 kits to choose from, the Colonial Rifle Kit and the Southern Mountain Rifle Kit. Both are flintlock, no percussion, and only right handed models are currently available. Also, only rifle barrels are available, no smoothbore yet. Jim plans on expanded his offering to left handed models as well as additional styles. If you are looking for a right handed flintlock rifle that is an excellent shooter, than look no further. Jim uses Rice swamp barrels, which are arguably one of the best barrels on the market.
There is no doubt that you can find a cheaper kit, but I doubt you will find a better value kit. My kit was $850, plus $200 for the lock, plus shipping and the chemicals for the stock. It’s not cheap by any means, but if you take your time, and build this high quality kit, you will not be disappointed.
My first kit was a Dimick Rifle Kit that required a high skill level to complete. This kit has a Rice barrel and a L&R percussion lock. The cost of this kit was basically the same as the Kibler kit, but a lot of the hard work was done for me on the Kimber Kit. Fortunately for me I have friends that are highly skilled gun builders. They helped me with cutting the dovetails on the barrel, drilling and tapping all the holes needed, and installing the breach plug to the barrel. I’m very close to finishing that kit, but I still need to make to nose cap by melting tin and pouring it. Again this is something I need help to do, so I’ve benched the gun until I can get the help needed.
Learning how to build these kits has been a wonderful process. I hope that I will be able to continue this for many years. What I really like about the Kibler kit is that an inexperienced builder can assemble the kit without any help. I can focus my skills on engraving, carving, and inletting a piece or two for decoration.
I choose the basic curly maple stock in .54 caliber. I will be using Jim’s chemicals to treat the wood and metal to give the gun the traditional look. Here are pictures as I assembled the kit.
Butt Plate Installed Barrel and Tang installed Tang inlet and bolted down Side view with Lock out. Cleaned up Patch Box Fit the slide cover for box Filed the butt plate dove tails to fit the box cover Box Cover installed and locked Box Cover installed Under lugs installed on barrel Holding Barrel in stock Drilled holes and made slot in under lugs Pinned the barrel under lugs into the stock Trigger pinned Barrel Pinned Brass plate for slide box cover Filed off the Slide Box Cover the thickness of the brass plate Installed the side plate for the lock. Installed the side plate for the lock. Lock installed into stock Trigger and Lock installed and tested Trigger Guard Installed Trigger Guard Installed Entry Pipe installed Pipes Installed Pipes Installed Epoxied the Nose Cap Epoxied the Nose Cap Brass End Cap on the Slide Box Installed Slide Cover with Brass attached Filed Dove Tails in the Brass End Cap Slide Box installed in Stock Brass on slide cover lines up with Butt Plate brass Touch Hole Liner Installed Hack sawed off Touch Hole Liner Filed the liner off flush with the barrel Nose Cap installed Nose Cap Nose Cap Installed Nose Cap Filed Cleaned up the Pipes and Box Hardware Butt Plate filed and polished Cleaned up the Butt Plate Draw Filed the Rice Swamp Barrel Draw Filed the Rice Swamp Barrel Brass Rivots on the nose cap Nose Cap Filed and polished trigger gaurd Cleaned up Trigger Gaurd Sanded stock flush with tang Carved on cheek rest Thumb Nail notch carved on box cover
Thank you Jim Kibler for creating a kit for the unskilled builder!
Here are a couple of comments from others much more experienced building a wide variety of kits: