AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: Grischi on July 17, 2022, 08:54:03 PM

Title: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on July 17, 2022, 08:54:03 PM
I want to show my Kibler Southern Mountain Rifle kit .40 cal. stocked in fancy maple. I assembled and finished it literally at the kitchen table.
I'm no professionel gun maker and the kit is my 3rd project and by far the most authentic gun I've built so far.
The preshaping and fit of the parts impressed me a lot.
It was much fun to build this gun. I finished it with aqua fortis and Bone Black. The ageing with Bone Black was a little bit tricky and in the vids it looks much easier than it actually is. But im quite satisfied with the results.
I've built the gun with some extras:
- an iron nose cap
- a toe plate
- a custom made side plate
- a sleeved entry pipe
- a custom shaped bean style patch box

Christian

(https://i.ibb.co/qMF5Y0Z/SMR-011.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HDpdTNJ)

(https://i.ibb.co/2jJVXWt/SMR-010.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Zh94yG8)

(https://i.ibb.co/4MVYzMg/SMR-014.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wCzwVCr)

(https://i.ibb.co/JHTNvxB/SMR-015.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SBg2tQs)

(https://i.ibb.co/wC28ntD/SMR-006.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TRNJQyz)

(https://i.ibb.co/kqr4XKC/SMR-005.jpg) (https://ibb.co/P1bcgxH)

(https://i.ibb.co/g7F7Ls2/SMR-003.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Sx7x4qj)

(https://i.ibb.co/VCDmjt5/SMR-004.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7pV4YXL)

(https://i.ibb.co/z6JbXSz/SMR-007.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CP2vbnf)
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Marcruger on July 17, 2022, 09:46:32 PM
It looks nicely done, and very appealing.  Congratulations.  God Bless,   Marc
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: jgraham1 on July 17, 2022, 10:34:32 PM
Love it.  Great looking rifle!

Jerry
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Ken G on July 17, 2022, 11:03:07 PM
Very nice looking tighter.  Well done and like the extras.

Ken
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Tony N on July 17, 2022, 11:30:28 PM
Well done!

Tony
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Keith Zimmerman on July 18, 2022, 01:18:01 AM
Looks great!
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Hunterdude on July 18, 2022, 01:21:27 AM
Hello, I am putting a Kibler southern mountain rifle together on My kitchen table right now,  may I ask what you used to color your barrel/process?
   It is very close to the color I want, I may wish to go slightly lighter color and I imagine I can get that by rubbing back just a bit more.
   Also if you could link what nose cap you used? that would be great! Thanks for posting your rifle.


(https://i.ibb.co/yfPZ97y/SMR-014.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vwqTFRP)


Update: this is smallest I could find on TOTW

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/0/1/MC-SC-12-I
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: hanshi on July 18, 2022, 02:45:03 AM
You did a great job on that SMR, I love those rifles.
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on July 18, 2022, 04:35:23 AM
Hello, I am putting a Kibler southern mountain rifle together on My kitchen table right now,  may I ask what you used to color your barrel/process?
   It is very close to the color I want, I may wish to go slightly lighter color and I imagine I can get that by rubbing back just a bit more.
   Also if you could link what nose cap you used? that would be great! Thanks for posting.

Update: this is smallest I could find on TOTW

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/0/1/MC-SC-12-I

You've found the right type of cap. I ordered two sizes: MC-SC-12-I and MC-SC-13-I. I'm actually not sure which size I used, sorry.
The barrel and all other metal parts have been treated with Birchwood Casey's brass black and rubbed back with 0000 steel wool.

Christian
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Fly Navy on July 18, 2022, 07:14:09 AM
Good looking SMR.
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: wmrike on July 18, 2022, 06:25:07 PM
The rifle is every bit as nice as the photography.  Good work all around.
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on July 18, 2022, 08:10:04 PM
Thank you all.
From all my kit guns so far the SMR has been the most easy assembly with the most period correct appearance.
The acknowledgements should go to Kibler's Longrifles first for the high quality kit as well as for his support videos on Youtube. I just managed to not messing it up while assembling it.

Christian
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: old george on July 19, 2022, 02:08:26 PM
Well done, very nice looking mt. rifle

george
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Robin Henderson on July 19, 2022, 04:41:02 PM
I like what you did.
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: jgraham1 on July 19, 2022, 05:51:11 PM
Make it a 45 and it would be a great rifle for hunting Wyoming and Montana!!!  I just love it and now contemplating another rifle.

Jerry
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Preacher Dave on July 19, 2022, 09:39:53 PM
Your SMR looks very nice Christian. The finishing and extras you added are very appealing to me. Great job!
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Jim Kibler on July 19, 2022, 11:10:17 PM
Great Job!
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Hunterdude on July 20, 2022, 04:43:47 AM
I like it to. Most Kibler SMR's either have no muzzle cap, or a few poured Pewter caps I have seen.
   I admit I prefer the clean look of no cap, however I can see the benefits of the protection. I think what I don't like is a lot of brass on a rifle ( I believe I am in the minority on this)....I have to admit I really like the muzzle cap in iron!
     I am not yet convinced I will put an iron cap on my .32 kibler SMR, but I have ordered the TOTW  iron cap and will modify it to be as slender as I can make it, if it comes out well I may inlet it on.
   If you get a chance, could you show a photo of the rifle muzzle cap from the bottom with the ramrod removed? I am wondering if the cap puts a little side load on the rod ? Or is it slender enough to clear the rod fully?
   Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: jgraham1 on July 20, 2022, 05:47:46 PM
Where did you get the - a sleeved entry pipe?

Wondering for my build.

Jerry
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on July 20, 2022, 07:20:55 PM
I like it to. Most Kibler SMR's either have no muzzle cap, or a few poured Pewter caps I have seen.
   I admit I prefer the clean look of no cap, however I can see the benefits of the protection. I think what I don't like is a lot of brass on a rifle ( I believe I am in the minority on this)....I have to admit I really like the muzzle cap in iron!
     I am not yet convinced I will put an iron cap on my .32 kibler SMR, but I have ordered the TOTW  iron cap and will modify it to be as slender as I can make it, if it comes out well I may inlet it on.
   If you get a chance, could you show a photo of the rifle muzzle cap from the bottom with the ramrod removed? I am wondering if the cap puts a little side load on the rod ? Or is it slender enough to clear the rod fully?
   Thanks for sharing!

The cap doesn't really interfere with the ramrod. It touchs the rod just slightly. No additional force to the rod. Here are two close ups of the cap.

Christian

(https://i.ibb.co/yQZt3Zc/IMG-1985.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Krfd1fp)

(https://i.ibb.co/6BJYd2p/IMG-1983.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fvGMcbK)
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on July 20, 2022, 07:24:31 PM
Where did you get the - a sleeved entry pipe?

Wondering for my build.

Jerry

It's from Track of the Wolf. Here is their parts number: RP-TC-RE-5-I

Christian
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Hunterdude on July 20, 2022, 07:44:06 PM
I like it to. Most Kibler SMR's either have no muzzle cap, or a few poured Pewter caps I have seen.
   I admit I prefer the clean look of no cap, however I can see the benefits of the protection. I think what I don't like is a lot of brass on a rifle ( I believe I am in the minority on this)....I have to admit I really like the muzzle cap in iron!
     I am not yet convinced I will put an iron cap on my .32 kibler SMR, but I have ordered the TOTW  iron cap and will modify it to be as slender as I can make it, if it comes out well I may inlet it on.
   If you get a chance, could you show a photo of the rifle muzzle cap from the bottom with the ramrod removed? I am wondering if the cap puts a little side load on the rod ? Or is it slender enough to clear the rod fully?
   Thanks for sharing!

The cap doesn't really interfere with the ramrod. It touchs the rod just slightly. No additional force to the rod. Here are two close ups of the cap.

Christian

(https://i.ibb.co/yQZt3Zc/IMG-1985.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Krfd1fp)

(https://i.ibb.co/6BJYd2p/IMG-1983.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fvGMcbK)

The photos show the ramrod clearance nicely, thank you!
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: oldtravler61 on July 21, 2022, 03:54:07 AM
  One very fine rifle... Really like this one..!  Well done..
  Oldtravler
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: LynnC on July 21, 2022, 11:57:23 AM
IMHO the ram rod should be snug to either the nose cap or the bare wood. Any gap gets more unsightly as the gap widens.  This an Excellent job. Well done!
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Molly on July 24, 2022, 02:22:10 PM
Going alone with the crowd on this.  As nice as any I have seen, maybe the best.  Great finish on the metal.  And the patch box is super.  Larger than most in width but positioned in the perfect spot makes all the lines of the stock flow perfectly.
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Bob Roller on July 24, 2022, 03:38:00 PM
An outstanding rifle and I agree 100% about brass on guns. I know a lot of them had it but I have never liked it.
Bob Roller
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: jgraham1 on July 24, 2022, 05:30:23 PM
Always thought that if there was brass, it needed to be blackened.  Don't care for the shiny stuff when hunting.

Jerry
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on July 24, 2022, 05:52:55 PM
Once again thank you all. I appreciate your comments much.
Usually tinkering around with italian kits (the availability of U.S. kits and stuff is limited unfortunately), I don't regret to have the SMR imported to Germany. On the contrary, I have to admit, I'm quite proud of this one.

Christian
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: jrb on July 24, 2022, 06:46:21 PM
super nice!!!
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: hawkeye on July 29, 2022, 04:47:55 PM
You surely underrated yourself and I would say that you did this job extremely well
Thanks for sharing Hawkeye
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on July 29, 2022, 05:02:46 PM
You surely underrated yourself and I would say that you did this job extremely well
Thanks for sharing Hawkeye
Thank you. Maybe you're right, but compared with the level of craftsmanship of some members here ...
... I'm more or less a novice.
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: hawkeye on August 01, 2022, 10:18:16 AM
In my humble opinion they also did not learned this in a couple months, by the way you said Germany, I 'm from Belgium
Hawkeye
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Rod Man on August 01, 2022, 10:15:16 PM
That rifle is absolutely Gorgeous!!!

RM
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Martin S. on August 02, 2022, 12:17:12 AM
Where did you get the - a sleeved entry pipe?

Wondering for my build.

Jerry

I'd like to know also.  Very nice rifle.
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on August 02, 2022, 05:17:47 AM
Where did you get the - a sleeved entry pipe?

Wondering for my build.

Jerry

I'd like to know also.  Very nice rifle.

It's from Track of the Wolf. Here is their parts number: RP-TC-RE-5-I

Christian
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Martin S. on August 02, 2022, 10:51:05 PM
Thank you very much for helping the rest of us out!

Your willingness to share is appreciated. 
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Fisherking on August 03, 2022, 04:24:56 AM


I love the look of the iron with the maple and the gun has such classy lines. This is on my short list!
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on August 03, 2022, 06:31:33 PM
Thank you very much for helping the rest of us out!

Your willingness to share is appreciated.

It's a pleasure for me. It is few enough I can contribute to this great community.

Christian
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Mick C on August 12, 2022, 01:36:50 AM
Kitchen table!!??  Holy cow!   Would you care to give me/us an idea of the tools you used?  I have been looking at those for a long, long time but I am such a hack when it comes to doing anything well with my hands. I've been afraid it would be a total waste of money and waste of nice materials for me to attempt one but you are giving me some hope. 

Thanks, Mick
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Grischi on August 12, 2022, 05:31:53 AM
Kitchen table!!??  Holy cow!   Would you care to give me/us an idea of the tools you used?  I have been looking at those for a long, long time but I am such a hack when it comes to doing anything well with my hands. I've been afraid it would be a total waste of money and waste of nice materials for me to attempt one but you are giving me some hope. 

Thanks, Mick

Well, my tools:
a small hammer, a hacksaw, different wood chisels, different screwdrivers, a flat file, a half-round file, some needle files, sanding paper with different grits, fine scotch brite pads, 0000 steel wool, a small foldable clamping workbench from a hardware store , a cordless power drill and a heat gun for the aqua fortis.
Jim Kibler's kits are great and precicely preshaped, if you intend to build your kit without additional hardware and inletting you don't need the hacksaw and just one or two small chisel. The only thing you have to pay attention to is the real filligree wood at the forestock.  Patience and sharp chisels are essential.

Christian
Title: Re: My Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle
Post by: Mick C on August 14, 2022, 12:37:10 AM
Thanks!!!  That does give me some hope.  Perhaps when it cools down enough to use my neglected garage workbench, I may just just one a shot.