Jim,
I can't add any more accolades to what the others have written. There are many, in fact most, original rifles that I appreciate greatly for what they are and for who made them, but they almost always leave my artistic eye, what I have of one, a little... flat...for want of a better term. There are many elements of any given rifle that I like, but there are almost no rifles that I can look at and say, wow, there is a rifle that I like everything about, the architecture, the engraving, the carving...everything. And, unfortunately for my own building attempts, I can't explain it. It's a lot like to trying to explain to someone why you think a woman is pretty. There are the obvious attributes, but the undefinable subtleties are often the most important. While there are many builders who like to make bench copies of originals, I would like to make, insofar as my talent would allow, a bench copy of a Kibler...and this one is a great candidate....As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Perhaps I missed them, but I have seen no specifics on this rifle either here or on the Makers Blog...caliber, barrel length, lock type, how you finished the metal and wood, etc. Can you fill us in on those details?
And Thanks...for building the rifle in the first place and for sharing it with all of us.
Dave C
