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Author Topic: Jim Kibler  (Read 24333 times)

Flinter

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Jim Kibler
« on: November 01, 2010, 08:09:18 AM »
This summer I ordered a .54 caliber wood patch box flintlock from Jim, and he said it would take about two years. He e-mailed me a few months ago and he said he would have one ready in October. He asked if I wanted it, and I said, “Sure!” I do not know what happened, but I am tickled to death. The photos were taken at an original log cabin built in the mid 1870s, and a few were taken behind the log cabin beside a REAL working out house. 

Jim said the overall stock architecture and rifle design is a compellation of his own ideas and work produced by Lancaster and Moravian gunsmiths. This rifle might represent a piece produced during the 1770’s time period. The rifle is stocked in relatively straight grain maple. The 54 caliber barrel was produced by Rice Barrels and lock is a modified Jim Chambers Early Ketland. The rifle decoration is loosely based on work by Moravian gunsmiths working in Pennsylvania and North Carolina during the 1760’s-1770’s. Wood surfaces of this rifle were created using very little abrasive paper, but rather relying on careful chisel, file and scraper work. This produces a surface which is very representative of period work. Overall the rifle has been finished with a slight patina, representing a used but well cared for piece.

Jim is going to post a little more professional pictures on the Contemporary Makers web site some time next week. My daughter Laura took the photos posted here.



http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6426/42976067.jpg

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/9161/18533692.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5376/53976894.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5515/64278373.jpg

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/966/39683843.jpg

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1881/59775271.jpg

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6593/35445422.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7446/10ama.jpg

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/4176/14ai.jpg

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3456/15ack.jpg

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/2668/16asc.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7310/17aek.jpg

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/9530/18ax.jpg


I hate to click on a link, but it is the best I can do.  ???


Mike

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Offline Longshot

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2010, 01:02:54 PM »
Yeah, I'd keep that one if I were you.
Outstanding!
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Offline C Wallingford

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2010, 02:16:44 PM »
Very, very nice. Jim's work is amazing. Clean crisp lines and an impeccable finish. I love it.
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Flinter

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2010, 02:59:41 PM »
The photos of Jim's rifle does not do the flintlock justice. My daughter said, "Dad, you mean I'm gonna get this custom flintlock one of these days?"
Not only is this a keeper, but a shooter as well Longshot.

Charles, this is the rifle that goes with the stag handle knife I am going to send you a check for today. Yea, I love it too.

Mike
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Offline Tom Currie

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2010, 03:12:30 PM »
Maybe the fanciest looking wood box cover I have seen. I think designing something thats interpretive yet not a copy is most impressive, as is everything else I see in these photos. Can't wait to see more.
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Offline Don Getz

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2010, 03:37:29 PM »
Holy smokes.   I don't think anyone even commented on the wood.   It doesn't take super curly wood to make a great gun...................Don
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Offline Fullstock longrifle

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2010, 04:01:08 PM »
Really nice rifle, he nailed it!

Frank
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nthe10ring

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2010, 04:40:27 PM »
It just doesn't get any better than that. Crisp , clean, gorgeous work. One of the best makers out there today.

Jerry Fisher
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Offline Ben I. Voss

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2010, 05:14:05 PM »
My, that is such super clean, crisp work! Amazing. Good job on the photos, too.
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Offline Robby

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2010, 06:13:50 PM »
Just beautiful, everything!
Robby
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molon labe
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Offline Kermit

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2010, 06:19:13 PM »
Absolutely no way to make it better. Truly the best I think I've ever seen. You've got a family heirloom there!
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Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #11 on: November 01, 2010, 11:09:42 PM »
Thank you all for the nice words.  Mike, thanks for posting pictures here and in the shooting section.  I've enjoyed them!  If you guys have any questions just ask.

-Jim
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Offline Gary Tucker

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2010, 11:22:12 PM »
Wow!  What a super gun.  Everything about it is fantastic.  The color is  just right. 
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Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2010, 11:32:36 PM »
So, where are you from Jim?  Certainly not of this world!  You blow my mind!!
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D. Taylor Sapergia
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Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline Larry Pletcher

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2010, 12:31:39 AM »
Jim,
Great work! I suspect we all see something different when we look at this gun.  For me it's the crispness of the carving.   Some day I hope to own such a fine piece.


Best Regards,
Pletch
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Regards,
Pletch
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He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what can never be taken away.

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Offline Tom Currie

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #15 on: November 02, 2010, 02:00:15 AM »
Jim, Since you findly offered I have a few questions

1. Your incised carving appears quite deep. What tool(s) do you use to cut that deep.

2. What did you use to make small incised circles ?

3. Tell us about your finish. It ceratinly appears " in the wood" and not on it.

4. Is your buttplate made from sheet ? Or is that a casting ?

Thanks
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Offline Ed Wenger

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #16 on: November 02, 2010, 03:24:49 AM »
WOW!  Jim always does superb work, but this rifle is truely a thing of beauty.  Just awesome...

                       Ed
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Ed Wenger

Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #17 on: November 02, 2010, 03:32:28 AM »
Tom,

The incised carving is cut by first stabbing in the design with chisels and gouges and then trimming one or both of the sides with a knife or skew chisel used as a knife.  I really like this technique in that you have total freedom in the nature of the incised cut.  You can make it quite deep while still pretty narrow.  You can also vary the width of the cut to create a more interesting line.  I like bold strong carving and this goes for incised work as well.  This is a technique that Wallace advocates and I learned it from him.

The little circles are mostly formed with a couple of nail sets ground down and sharpened.  It sort of just compresses the wood.  You see this on some Moravian work.  It doesn't always work perfectly, but creates a decent overall effect.  In a few places I cut the circles by spinning a gouge and then removing wood outside of this cut to create an incised line.

The stock was stained with iron nitrate.  The finish is Kettenberg's oil.  Variations in color were primarily created using a commercial glaze and and by mixing color in the finish.  Some of the finish and color is in the wood, some is on the wood.


The butplate is a casting that I made the master and molds for so it could be wax cast. 

Jim
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Offline Bill of the 45th

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #18 on: November 02, 2010, 03:40:45 AM »
This gun is breathtaking, and the photography as well, these are some of the best lighted pic's in a while.  Artistry both rifle, and picture.

Bill

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Bill Knapp
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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #19 on: November 02, 2010, 05:31:21 AM »
Jim,   Beautiful work.   

I have a question if you don't mind.  What is the different texture under the patch box lid?  It looks like a leather insert.

Thanks,
Bill
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Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #20 on: November 02, 2010, 06:24:19 AM »
Bill,

There's just wood under the box lid.  It's probably not quite as smooth as the the exposed areas.  Likely didn't get the rubbing and attention that the exposed surfaces did.

Jim
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Offline B Shipman

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #21 on: November 02, 2010, 07:26:43 AM »
Every line, every turn of the carving just adds grace to the rifle.
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Offline smshea

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #22 on: November 02, 2010, 03:35:46 PM »
That's a true jaw dropper! Very beautiful Jim.
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Offline Robert Wolfe

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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #23 on: November 02, 2010, 03:44:18 PM »
The carving on this rifle is, for me, inspiring and depressing at the same time. How can you not be inspired by that bold, flowing hand? But, its depressing because I'll never get there!
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Robert Wolfe
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Re: Jim Kibler
« Reply #24 on: November 02, 2010, 04:26:56 PM »
Quote from: Don Getz on November 01, 2010, 03:37:29 PM
Holy smokes.   I don't think anyone even commented on the wood.   It doesn't take super curly wood to make a great gun...................Don
I agree with Don wholeheartedly. What a gorgeous rifle! The architecture and carving sure carry this one! Great work,Jim.
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