considering taking the next step

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Well I got a bonus and for years I've been convincing myself I desired a .36 caliber to whack smaller critters with.

I have built a number of Lyman GPR kits, and I've finished one TVM in-the-white gun.  I am looking to take the next step up.  Based on Chamber's kits being highly recommended I called them and they said they don't have .36s which ended the discussion pretty quickly.

The other brand that seemed like it might be worthwhile is TVM.  It sounds like their kits are good beginner kits. 

Another option I've been thinking of was Track of the Wolf's Buck's County and doing it as a schimmel w/o butt plate, entry thimble, nose cap.

So TVM or TOW?

[Tim Crosby]

 Have you seen this one? There are other posts on it here and on Jim's blog.

  http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=39361.0

  Tim C.

   

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Tim.  Yes I saw that thread but there was very little in it to suggest that Mr. Kibler actually sells gun kits.  It just looked like he built one from a kit that he got from who-knows-where.

[John Archer]

Go to the link provided in the message...Jim Kibler developed and sells these kits.

John.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

OK.  I see.  So that runs about $200 more than a TVM kit.  So what would I be getting that doesn't come with a TVM?

CNC machined stock? Means less inletting on my part?

Rice barrel?  That would be a swamped barrel right?  That in itself could explain the cost difference.

[Daniel]

 You would be getting the best of the best. Let alone Jim's knowledge and passion for what he does.

[ddoyle]

This is one of the rare cases where you can simply blindly purchase a kit and never get buyer's remorse.

I do not know how many of these kibler kits are available or how many are sold but at some point they are going to sell out and then the  not buying remorse will set in.

If you are un-certain  do your self a huge favor just buy the kit, leave it un-altered and it will retain 100% of it's value ( or more the second Jim's stock is depleted)

Your .36 interest timing could not be better. Seize the day.

[moleeyes36]

IMHO, ddolye is right on the money with his advice.  With quality parts for a rifle like that going for about the same as Jim Kibler is offering his "kit", it's a helluva bargin.

Mole Eyes

[thimble rig]

Yep you might as well get Mr Kiblers kit,I ordered mine when he first offered it.Should be getting it in the next couple of weeks.TOW kits are ok but Jims is better.I never met the man in person.But by looking at the guns that he has built nothing but quality all the way.You cant go wrong with one of his kits.

[Bob Roller]

These high end kits are NOT oriented to a distressed market. The market they cater to is narrow
and quality sells to this group. I used to get calls from people wanting my locks and triggers for a
low price and my answer was abrupt and still is and that is "I pay nobody to buy what I'm making".
The people that bought my work paid me to slow down.The Germans told me to forget about the
market that let's $3 stop them and I did just that. That was in 1978.

Bob Roller

[Chrisweiler]

Bob out of curiosity back in "the day" what kind of premium would one of your locks bring over the standard siler/l&r? The first thing my mentor stressed to me was not to cheap out on rifle building/components

[Bob Roller]

Bob out of curiosity back in "the day" what kind of premium would one of your locks bring over the standard siler/l&r? The first thing my mentor stressed to me was not to cheap out on rifle building/components

Chris,
I have no idea now as to comparative prices between my locks and any of the production locks.
In the past few years I have made a number of flintlocks on the L&R Manton-Egg and Ashmore
external parts.That is a lock that will cost $235 which is $150 labor for the mechanism and $85 for the
parts. There is also $7 now for USPS Flat Rate. The Siler type locks I have never made and have no idea about prices there.I have used from time to time the Chambers Late Ketland which I think is the best of the production locks. I still have two of these to make and then that's done.With current parts prices quoted by Barbie my version of the Ketland will be about $260.
Caplocks are all over the chart. I have made a small "4 pin"*rook rifle lock that went for $400 and the bigger version for Alex Henry/Rigby was $350. These are specialty locks for High$ guns. Hawken locks are $150+$7
shipping.I have plate profile patterns for the Carson and Bridger locks. Used the Davis hammers on most of these but they are now hard to get for whatever reason.The Hawken hop in Washington State has a Bridger hammer that seem to be OK and I have used two of them so far.
After I started sending most of locks to Germany in the late 1970's I was making Schuetzen locks and triggers for them and getting about $300 a set. That is for the lock and trigger together.
So,getting back to your initial question,I don't know the answer.It;s a negotiation between a willing seller and a willing buyerThere are still people wanting me to make a bench crafted lock for a low$ and I disregard them. Same for donating them as prizes,no way.Did it once and never again.

Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

Bob out of curiosity back in "the day" what kind of premium would one of your locks bring over the standard siler/l&r? The first thing my mentor stressed to me was not to cheap out on rifle building/components

Chris,
I have no idea now as to comparative prices between my locks and any of the production locks.
In the past few years I have made a number of flintlocks on the L&R Manton-Egg and Ashmore
external parts.That is a lock that will cost $235 which is $150 labor for the mechanism and $85 for the
parts. There is also $7 now for USPS Flat Rate. The Siler type locks I have never made and have no idea about prices there.I have used from time to time the Chambers Late Ketland which I think is the best of the production locks. I still have two of these to make and then that's done.With current parts prices quoted by Barbie my version of the Ketland will be about $260.
Caplocks are all over the chart. I have made a small "4 pin"*rook rifle lock that went for $400 and the bigger version for Alex Henry/Rigby was $350. These are specialty locks for High$ guns. Hawken locks are $150+$7
shipping.I have plate profile patterns for the Carson and Bridger locks. Used the Davis hammers on most of these but they are now hard to get for whatever reason.The Hawken hop in Washington State has a Bridger hammer that seem to be OK and I have used two of them so far.
After I started sending most of locks to Germany in the late 1970's I was making Schuetzen locks and triggers for them and getting about $300 a set. That is for the lock and trigger together.
So,getting back to your initial question,I don't know the answer.It;s a negotiation between a willing seller and a willing buyerThere are still people wanting me to make a bench crafted lock for a low$ and I disregard them. Same for donating them as prizes,no way.Did it once and never again.

Bob Roller

Chris, I forgot to designate the *. 4 pin locks are locks with 4 screws holding the bridle

[Chrisweiler]

Thanks Bob, any information you guys pass on to us younger folks is much appreciated.