Track of the Wolf kits

[Eric Krewson]

My fubar stock was from a kit that had spent a lot of time in someone's closet before they decided they didn't have the skills to make the gun, second hand purchase, actually third hand because the kit changed hands again before I picked it up, I couldn't send it back.

It looked like a great deal, over $1100 in parts (rice barrel, deluxe chambers lock) and work by Track, the buttplate was installed and all the dovetails cut plus the wood as good as I ever made a gun out of. I picked it up for $650 shipped, I will make a nice gun out of it but it will have some patches glued in.

[FlintFan]

I think we might be missing the main point of this thread.  The OP has built from kits, and seemed to desire more freedom than what they could afford him during the process of a build.

I put out the idea that it might appear that he is ready to move on from the limitations that are inherent with pre-carved kits, and suggested the idea that he try building from a blank, which it appears he is open to. His main concerns were with inletting the barrel and possibly the ramrod.  Several good suggestions as to who could do that work were put forth.  A blank with the barrel and ramrod channel/hole milled would be the next step up from the kits he has already assembled.

Instead of having a discussion about which kits are worst/best/easiest and the faults found in some of them, one of the goals of this site should be to encourage the progression of a new builder from being a kit assembler to becoming an actual gun maker. Kits, no matter how well they are designed and manufactured, are by their very nature limiting and static as to many major aspects the the gunmaker's trade. 

I applaud 577SXS for having the desire and curiosity to move on to something more.

[rich pierce]

Huzzah to the previous post.

In addition to having more artistic freedom in stocking a gun from a blank as regards architecture and all, there is the exciting creative aspect of choosing or making parts to build a unique gun or at least, something not 80% like “kit x”. Researching originals and putting together a plan for a new build is at least half the fun for me. If I have to modify or fabricate parts for the build, so much the better. If I get to make tools to make the gun, that’s another layer of engagement for me. And as a hobby builder who sells one to have the money to make more, it’s all about keeping myself excited about the work.

[577SXS]

The issue I have with kits is they don't give you a lot of wood to play with. The one I'm building now needed to barrel further back but with a swamped barrel if you move it back you get gaps in wood to metal fit. Also some already have gaps that you can't fix. I hate wood work especially the boring hogging out to get close. I have built many bolt guns so I know how to inlet but I just don't like all the time it take to get to where I want to be. The last kit I built was a Chambers Edward Marshall and I decided to carve it even though I'd hate wood and didn't want to try carving. Its turned out to be fun and interesting. Also I hate the grip rails on trigger guards so I reforged the Edward Marshall guard and got rid of the grip rail. The  Chambers Mark Silver kit I'm building now has brass furniture so its a lot harder to change the trigger guard because it was pre inletted. I had a friend tig a new rail closer to the stock but it wasn't a good enough job to continue with that. I'm going to try and repair the guard at a later time when I get my tig set up. I have a Tool & Die background so I love metal work and can do most anything with steel. I hate wood work but am getting better at it and actually enjoying it. Maybe I'll get one of the people suggested here to do barrel and ramrod on a blank for my next rifle build. I'm actually planning on building a dueling pistol set from scratch next but I won't be making the locks. Thanks for all to good posts!

[Birddog6]

I would not buy one from TOW. If I was going to buy a parts set I would get it from Tip Curtis.  His has more wood left on it so you can make changes.
On all of them you inlet the lock 75% of the way & then move the barrel back to where you need it for the vent to b correct.
I wouldn’t trust any of them to send you a quality stock. I’ve used all of them mentioned & had issues with their stocks. Unless you Hand Pick then, you could end up with anything.
The best stock shaper/inletter I know is Mark at Jacks Mountain stocks. Get the stock shaped & barrel inlet & RR hole drilled & do your own inletting. Mark does a great job & a fair price.
I’ve built 2 Kecks, over 12 TOW, 6 Pecatonica, 3 Chambers, 9 Dunlaps, 16 Tip Curtis & 27 from Jacks Mountain Stocks & lots of others. Hands down Jacks stock work is  superior to me. And his barrel inletting is not just close, it is absolutely perfect.  He’s not running 20 stocks at a time, he does Your one for You.
Now it is not a kit, but if you have errors, you made them. You are not patching up everyone else’s errors from worn out duplicator patterns. 

[WadePatton]

I would not buy one from TOW. If I was going to buy a parts set I would get it from Tip Curtis.  His has more wood left on it so you can make changes.
On all of them you inlet the lock 75% of the way & then move the barrel back to where you need it for the vent to b correct.
I wouldn’t trust any of them to send you a quality stock. I’ve used all of them mentioned & had issues with their stocks. Unless you Hand Pick then, you could end up with anything.
The best stock shaper/inletter I know is Mark at Jacks Mountain stocks. Get the stock shaped & barrel inlet & RR hole drilled & do your own inletting. Mark does a great job & a fair price.
I’ve built 2 Kecks, over 12 TOW, 6 Pecatonica, 3 Chambers, 9 Dunlaps, 16 Tip Curtis & 27 from Jacks Mountain Stocks & lots of others. Hands down Jacks stock work is  superior to me. And his barrel inletting is not just close, it is absolutely perfect.  He’s not running 20 stocks at a time, he does Your one for You.
Now it is not a kit, but if you have errors, you made them. You are not patching up everyone else’s errors from worn out duplicator patterns.

super good info right there.

Welcome back Keith! 

[Scota4570]

How do you see what Jack's Mountain Stocks has to offer?  They do not have a website?

[WadePatton]

How do you see what Jack's Mountain Stocks has to offer?  They do not have a website?

olde skool methinks: (ripped from a biz directory online) You can contact Mark at (717) 543-5370.