Kibler Kit

[Hawg]

It finally got here. The stories are all true. The fit is very, very close with very little finish work required. The trigger guard is the worst of it.

[Zulch]

Congratulations Hawg! Looks great.    Let the fun begin.

[Bishop Creek]

I have read that the Kibler kits are the best you can get. Looks really nice Hawg. I like the wooden patchbox cover too. My only experience was building a Thompson Center Hawken kit back in the '70s, turned out ok, but I'm not the best at woodworking.

[Marshal Will]

That looks like it will be a lot of fun to finish out. Congrats on a good choice.

[Hawg]

I'm not the best at woodworking.

I suck at woodworking but this is so close to being finished I think I can handle it. All the inletting is done. The butt plate, entry pipe and trigger guard come installed. The barrel and lock are a drop in fit. I didn't expect a very good piece of wood but it has some figure to it and even some striping.

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello Hawg,

I can't wait to see the finished product.
I'm sure it will be a fantastic rifle.

AntiqueSledMan.

[Zulch]

Hawg, I was looking at the pictures. What kind of metal is the frizzen?? made of? The assembly in picture is what I am referring to. I apologize if I got the terminology incorrect. I know very little about flintlocks.

[Hawg]

The assembly is called the lock. The frizzen is the hinged part the flint strikes. The frizzen is made out of 1095 hardened steel.

[Zulch]

Thank you Hawg. So the lock is steel too. 👍

[Hawg]

Thank you Hawg. So the lock is steel too. 👍

Yes it's steel. It pretty much has to be. It is cast steel but it's not bad as it is. I'm undecided whether to smooth it out or leave it as is. Opinions anybody?

[Zulch]

That's why I asked. The texture almost makes it look like a brush aluminum look? So you can smooth it out it sounds? Extra fine grit paper.

[Bishop Creek]

...I know very little about flintlocks.

In the 18th Century, lots of flintlocks were parted out and sold when the stock broke or the barrel got burned out. However, if you sold the entire gun, you sold it "Lock, stock, and barrel." And if your gun misfired, only the priming in the lock's pan went off and not the main charge, it was called "Just a flash in the pan," meaning it didn't amount to much.

[Hawg]

That's why I asked. The texture almost makes it look like a brush aluminum look? So you can smooth it out it sounds? Extra fine grit paper.

It has more of a sandblasted look. Some of it can be sanded out. The parting lines will have to be filed regardless of whether or not I smooth it all out. The inside is nicely done.

[Bishop Creek]

Hawg, did the lock come with that amber French flint?

[Hawg]

Hawg, did the lock come with that amber French flint?

Sure did.