rifle - additional photos added

[Jim Kibler]

Here's a rifle I finished a little while ago.  Guess it's kind of unique...  It's stocked in pear wood, the stock is a take down variety, it has heavy fowling piece influence and most of the decoration is more or less my own stuff, though I'm sure the ideas came from some place.  The stock wood is interesting in that it is from a pear tree that Wallace planted in his garden in Williamsburg and later blew down in one of the huricanes that hit the Williamsburg area.  It's a 54 caliber and of course has a Chambers round faced lock.  The photos are fairly accurate to how it looks, though I think the engraving looks a little better in person than the pictures show. Anways, comments or questions are welcomed and encouraged!  

Jim

[tallbear]

I like it Jim thanks for posting.I particuarly like the tang carving.The color is also great.

Mitch

[JTR]

Almost art deco-ish. I like it!
John

[pathfinder]

JTR,ya took the word's right out from under me! Especialy the tang. I  have a couple chunks of pear drying as we speak. I can only HOPE to do as well as this one!

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

[Jim Kibler]

I should also add that the fowling piece stocking with a rifled barrel follows the tradition of a couple John Newcomer examples.  One other bit about the lock engraving...  I got some of the ideas from a neat trade lock that Flintriflesmith shows on his website.  Pretty unique for a design to originate from under the pan.  Thanks guys.

Jim

[Ray Nelson]

Jim,

Very, very NICE!

Cudos!

Ray

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

What a treat to see such work!!  Just love it!!!

Pear is wonderful to carve, in my limited experience.  I carved all of the blocks for a period sailing ship model, from pear.  It's very fine and close grained and takes carving well.  Great job Jim.

[Birddog6]

Jim.  That is a real Beaut !    Lets see the triggerguard, pipes, nosecap, sideplate, & etc.  Really nice looking piece.  

[JDK]

Jim,

I'm a big fan of the Newcomer done in this fashion on display at Landis Valley right now and in the book of the same.  Seeing pictures of that gun gives you no perspective of the scale of this gun....I expected it to be larger.  It is a pleasure to behold.

You did very nice, clean work here....as is typical of you.  Art Deco is the first thing I thought when I saw this gun too.  Quite a leap from the traditional carving you usually produce.

Thanks for sharing.  Enjoy, J.D.

[docone]

That rifle is very easy on the eyes. At least I think so.
I especially like the engraving. I am not that interested in carving, but the entire rifle all fits together.
A privilege to see.

[jamesthomas]

 Thats a beautiful rifle! Nice figure to the wood. I like the carving myself, But, and this the most inportant thing , How well does she shoot?

[rjpalmer]

Beautiful! It's so smooth and flowing. One of the nicest that I have ever seen.

[Tom Currie]

I was thinking art-deco also. I believe I have tought that about some previous Kibler rifles also, but maybe more so on this rifle.

Super clean, easily recognizable as a Jim Kibler product. Jim you certainly have your own style .

[PPatch]

That is one FINE rifle J. Kibler, I like everything about it so I will not single out any part to remark on. As a whole, a work of art.

dave

[smylee grouch]

Great looking gun, great color and as usual great sharpclean carving. Do you have any pics of the gun in its take down mode?

[James Rogers]

Very nice Jim. It looks even better with the color and finish on her.
There is exceptional flow and harmony between the carving and engraving. Not only are they unusually complimentary to each other, they speak well to the lines of the stock architecture.

That TG looks familiar. Upon your recommendation I did not file away the sling swivel boss on mine. Additionally upon your example here I will not drill it out either. 

As stated above, would love to see more hardware as well as the gun in taketown.

James

[Jerry V Lape]

Jim, very creative and the execution is as always superb.  I like the art deco feel , and the patch box looks like the form on a classic art deco home radio of the 1930s stretched out;  Or maybe the Chrysler Bldg and it fits with the other carvings perfectly without violating the architecture of the long rifle or the Rococo forms.  Great!   

[WadePatton]

Gorgeous wood color and dig that carving-and the whole thing is excellent of course-those two are just the most appealing to me.  Great work.

[smart dog]

Hi Jim,
Beautiful gun.  Very different and creative.  The carving around the barrel tang reminds me of Baroque German scroll and strapwork sometimes found on early 18th century Jaegers.  It is simplified and much more elegant than those German guns.  The carving is perfectly in tune with the whole gun.  Your technique of having the scrolls grow out of the wood and then disappear is marvelous.  Your finish is also integral with the stock and carvings.  It is as if you painted a scene.  Jim, in my opinion, you are really making the transition from great craftsmanship to art.

dave

[Cobweb]

Supurb! What else can you say! Love it!

[Mark Elliott]

Very nice Jim.    I am glad someone else is willing to try something different and show it.

[Longshot]

The quality of craftsmanship is screaming.
A very tasty piece.
Salute!

[elk killer]

Jim,
of course its wonderful. just like everything you do..
how did you decide on the length of the wood box?
just asking ?  as you see all kinds of widths and lengths
Mark

[Topknot]

Exquisitely done, everything looks great. I really like your carving on the butt stock.

                                               great work,

                                                            topknot

[Keb]

Nice.