Split from the topic "Assembled Mountain Rifle Kit Update"

[Don Steele]

Jim,
I don't have a dog in this hunt at the present time, as I am Left-Handed and have no interest in right hand flintlock rifles.
(Other's experience may differ...that's just me)
It does appear that this new kit offering you have is going to be nothing less than a GAME CHANGER in the "kit business". Congratulations Sir.
I know the whole LH thing has been discussed already, and I understand your position on it as not practical at the present time. Can't say I disagree.
That said, it has been my experience (as a left-hand shooter) that I don't have a problem with RH caplocks.
Have you considered a Caplock rifle kit for future offerings..??

[B Staley]

Looking good. I'm also a lefty and I don't understand why it's so hard to find left hand kits. JMHO.

[bkb]

I'm left-handed too, and your right trying to find a left-handed kit is like trying to find chickens teeth.  With that said, Jim's kits are top of the line and if I was right-handed I would own one.

[thimble rig]

Yahoo.Thats a fine looking rifle Jim.You out did youre self on that one.I cant wait to get mine.Yeah it sucks trying ti find left handed kits.Maybe Jim could offer a blank stock with just the barrel inletted in a kit form for left hand.

[Chrisweiler]

That just looks like an incredible value

[TDW]

Everything I hoped it would be !!! Can't wait for mine !   Got my deposit in early, and the balance is just waiting to hear the word from Jim....With any luck, this new .40 cal. will go with me for fall squirrel hunting in Iowa and Missouri this year !!!!!!
Tom

[Tim Crosby]

 Looks great Jim.

   Tim

[BOB HILL]

Simply beautiful, Jim.
Bob

[Daniel]

 Oh wow. Beautiful. I may have to get one now.

Daniel

[Rolf]

I'm left-handed too, and your right trying to find a left-handed kit is like trying to find chickens teeth.  With that said, Jim's kits are top of the line and if I was right-handed I would own one.

I agreed whole heartly with you!!

Best regards
Rolf

[Jim Kibler]

I'm happy that you all like it.  This example was just a piece of plain maple, but the kits will be supplied with curly wood of course.  I'm in the process of working out a few details and assembling lots of set triggers.  I think the first shipments should be sent the week after next (week of 3-28).  Thanks again for the wonderful response!  I would have never guessed it would be so well received.

I'd love to help all of you left-handers out, but there are some obstacles to overcome.  You never know, maybe in time...

Thanks again everybody.  Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Jim

[Kingsburyarms]

Looks fantastic. Will be a fun build! -

[gunmaker]

Without a doubt the best value on the entire market I'm thinkin'     very, very well thought out...Tom

[Frank]

Anxiously awaiting my 40 cal with the double curly maple upgrade.

[ddoyle]

I'd love to help all of you left-handers out, but there are some obstacles to overcome.

keep it simple design something around a large siler- get the gun works to turn barrels out of 4140 so that you can sell to the world and not just NA- choose a ' do it all' cal/gauge to further broaden market.   

I for one will send you a seed money/deposit tomorrow if you decide to get serious about it.

Would a dozen guys sending 300 get the project started? (a 2-3  year expected wait with NO customer input expected or required.)

[Mike Brooks]

I'd love to help all of you left-handers out, but there are some obstacles to overcome.

keep it simple design something around a large siler- get the gun works to turn barrels out of 4140 so that you can sell to the world and not just NA- choose a ' do it all' cal/gauge to further broaden market.   

I for one will send you a seed money/deposit tomorrow if you decide to get serious about it.

Would a dozen guys sending 300 get the project started? (a 2-3  year expected wait with NO customer input expected or required.)

Good God, not a large Siler on a Mt. rifle.....

[Dennis Glazener]

keep it simple design something around a large siler-

I agree 100% with Mike, please don't use a Siler. I understand the limitations of left hand locks but if nothing else a left handed L&R Manton would work.
Dennis

[sqrldog]

Only change is it needs is brother with a B weight barrel. Then a .50 cal deer rifle would be possible and a .45 cal. O'well one can dream.😊 Tim

[Mike Brooks]

Only change is it needs is brother with a B weight barrel. Then a .50 cal deer rifle would be possible and a .45 cal. O'well one can dream.😊 Tim

Oh, that's right you Alabamians don't hunt squirrels......

[sqrldog]

Already have squirrel rifles I'm broke out in .32 cal. Rifles. Just wishing. Reminds of a time somefriends and I were sitting and talking and one said he wished he owned 10,000 acres of land the other said while you're wishing go ahead and wish it had a fence around it.😊
As to the matter of left handed versions there are Southern rifles with locks bearing a resemblance to a Siler. The recent Zenas Alexander posted by Mike Briggs is an example. Other's in the Ivey book. I admit they're rare but so are left handed rifles. Now I will tell you quickly that I wish Chambers would build a lefty late Ketland. The problem is economic not enough lefties to pay for the tooled masters, molds etc. Tim

[tlallijr]

Only change is it needs is brother with a B weight barrel. Then a .50 cal deer rifle would be possible and a .45 cal. O'well one can dream.😊 Tim

 Jim said he will have .45 cal barrels for his kit in the future. Looking at his website it may be as soon as this summer. Tony

[ddoyle]

Good God, not a large Siler on a Mt. rifle

Did I say mountain rifle?  No I suggested a Kibler quality kit offering that had a Left hand Chambers Assembled Large Siler.

I understand the limitations of left hand locks but if nothing else a left handed L&R Manton would work.

Yeah they work after a huge investment in hours of work and not the kind of work that can be successfully taken on by the majority of us,  trying to supply a quality kit using a stock L&R lock would be IMPOSSIBLE.  Using a chambers lock means that the quality of the off the shelf lock would match the quality of a  Kibler CNC stock/hardware etc.  


Plus anyone wanting an HC left hand mountain rifle with an LR lock there is already a quality offering out there   What do you want to bet that alot of hours went into making the lock quality match the rest of the build:



We cannot expect that a market (lefthand flintlocks) that represents 10% of an already small market (flintlocks) is going to be able to have perfect HC guns offered at kit prices. We can either learn to shoot from the right shoulder, pay the big bucks (to have an LR completely reworked) OR make some allowances in historical correctness to achieve an accurate, safe, reliable rifle. ( that leaves the Large Siler as the only contender)

[Hemo]

What a beautiful piece of work, Jim! Lovely subtle swoopy lines in the butt, almost reminiscent of Lehigh style!  How much wood finishing (scraping, inletting, sanding) did you have to do to get to that point? Are the triggers purpose built for this kit? I'm looking forward to seeing some finished products!

Regarding the lefties in this group, I have to wonder if a disproportionate number of muzzleloader builders and shooters are left handed. In the general population, left handedness is supposed to occur about ten percent of the time, but it seems like lots more than ten percent in this hobby/addiction are lefties. Maybe it's just a vocal minority. A poll might be interesting. I just googled left-handedness, and found that lefties tend to be higher achievers than righties. On the other hand, 40 percent of schizophrenics are left handed. Make of that what you will.

Gregg (a rightie)

[Mike Brooks]

Hey Kibler....why don't you send me one of those to put together so's I could sort of do a review like in those big modern gun magazines? Of course I'd want to keep it for doing you the service.....

[Bob Roller]

Does a right handed shooter with a double barreled flintlock shotgun or rifle have any trouble with the "exhaust" gas from the left hand barrel?? I have never fired a double barreled flintlock so can't speak from experience.
I made a VERY few left hand flintlocks on the L&R Manton and the Durs Egg. I got$175 for the labor on the mechanisms + whatever L&R charged for the external parts needed.As far as I know,the locks are still working but the $175 is LONG gone so IMHO the "Big bucks"argument is not valid.

Bob Roller