Jim Kibler kits

[Boompa]

   Heck, the box he builds to send it in is a work of art.

[TDW]

Jim and Katherine,
   My kit was delivered to my Post Office today. On time, undamaged, and the box won the admiration of our local Postmaster...! The contents were undamaged, and well protected by excellently placed structural supports and hard foam padding. All parts were accounted for, and in heavy zip lock bags and secured in a center cardboard box that doubles as a support.
   I worked for 16 years as the final inspector/final assembly supervisor for Shiloh Rifle Co. I used to do my final inspection with a 20x optivisor, to make sure I had missed nothing. I used to say that I could find flaws in anything...and that was not an idle comment. I went over the kit (and yes, I used my optivisor) for about 45 minutes looking for the flaws I would have to correct later.

 In the kit I received, there are NO flaws....!

All the stock inlet edges are crisp with no chips to replace. The castings had no pits to fill, or soft edges to redress. I ordered my barrel with the touch hole liner, under lugs, and the sights dovetailed and fitted. To say that they were properly done would be faint praise...they were, in fact, perfect (I particularly liked the traditional low style of the sights). The triggers are light and petite, but still strong and well shaped. The walnut stock is excellently proportioned, as dark as I had hoped with no lighter or included areas, and has a nice tight grain. The instruction sheets are clear and the procedures laid out in the order of assembly.  

   I could go on, but will instead say that this is the finest "kit" I have ever seen. I will definitely recommend this kit to even the most novice builder (like myself).

Thanks to Jim and Katherine for this amazing effort !
 
Sgt Tom  

[GANGGREEN]

Nice review Sgt. Tom, makes me even more anxious to see mine when it gets here.

[G. Elsenbeck]

I'll ditto what Sgt Tom said.  If only this humble guy can do justice what this kit deserves.  Great job Jim and Katherine.
Gary

[TDW]

GANGGREEN, It will be worth the wait.

    If I can avoid being called into work, I will try to get the barrel and tang into the stock tomorrow. The barrel is fully inlet as it comes from Jim, with the tang needing some minor inletting. Sadly, it will then have to sit for a few weeks while I get a refinish job done on a different rifle. I am already planning to order another of the kits in maple with a .40 cal. barrel.

Gary,
   My challenge will be to NOT screw up Jim's great work as well......
Sgt. Tom

[thimble rig]

Just received my kit today.Arrived on time no damage.All the parts were there.The castings came out came great.And that stock is so skinny.And the barrel even came with the dovetails cut and the flash hole liner drilled and tapped.The maple stock has some really nice curl to it to.Thanks Jim and kate for all the hard work that  you have done to put this together.This has to be one of the greatest kits of all time.Now for the next question.Whats youre next kit going to be.Im already saving my pennies for it.

[Jim Kibler]

Thank you everyone.  I'm guessing some are getting tired hearing about this stuff...  I probably would be too.  Anyways, I can't tell you how happy it makes us that you all are so pleased.

As I said, this has been difficult, but very good.  I was talking to a friend the other day and mentioned how much more appreciation I have for the business Jim Chambers and Barbie run.  Until you start doing this sort of stuff, you don't realize all that is involved.  And we only have just a few products!

Which brings up a point.  Yes, we do a lot in putting this kit together, but there really are lots of others involved.  Here's a quick list:

Jason Schneider at Rice is making the really nice barrels.  He's able to produce them to close enough tolerances that I can cut barrel channels all the same and the barrels fit nicely.  He's also cutting dovetails and machining barrels for touch hole liners.  

Jim Chambers and Barbie are of course making the locks.  These are their usual great quality products.  They have several people that help them with this process as well.

We're purchasing wood from several sources in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.  We're able to find quality wood at a price point which can work for the customer.

Castings are being produced at a foundry in Arkansas.

Beautiful screw machine work is being done by a gentleman in North Carolina.

Shipping boxes will soon be produced by someone in Williamsburg, Virginia

Underlugs are made by the nice folks at Track of the Wolf

Ted Cash makes the ramrod pipes...


This list can go on.  The point is that an effort like this involves a lot of people.  We've learned it makes sense for us to focus on what we do best.

We'll probably add another product in time, but it will be a while.  I want to keep refining this for a while.  Even though it's a good product there are ways to improve it and the process.  

For example, the shipping boxes I will be using in the future are much nicer than those shown.  You will be impressed!  The stock finish from machining has been good, but my machine crash the other day identified a couple of problems and things should be even higher quality moving forward.  And on top of these examples we're pushing hard to make the process more efficient and effective.  Lots to be done, that's for sure!

So thank you all very much.

Jim and Katherine

  

[thimble rig]

I just had an idea about that shipping crate.Im going to put a frame around the lid,take the dividers out put some hinges on the lid and some hasps to keep it closed and a handle,stain it and find some foam padding and make a nice carrying case out of it.

[Frank]

Jim and Katherine,
   My kit was delivered to my Post Office today. On time, undamaged, and the box won the admiration of our local Postmaster...! The contents were undamaged, and well protected by excellently placed structural supports and hard foam padding. All parts were accounted for, and in heavy zip lock bags and secured in a center cardboard box that doubles as a support.
   I worked for 16 years as the final inspector/final assembly supervisor for Shiloh Rifle Co. I used to do my final inspection with a 20x optivisor, to make sure I had missed nothing. I used to say that I could find flaws in anything...and that was not an idle comment. I went over the kit (and yes, I used my optivisor) for about 45 minutes looking for the flaws I would have to correct later.

 In the kit I received, there are NO flaws....!


All the stock inlet edges are crisp with no chips to replace. The castings had no pits to fill, or soft edges to redress. I ordered my barrel with the touch hole liner, under lugs, and the sights dovetailed and fitted. To say that they were properly done would be faint praise...they were, in fact, perfect (I particularly liked the traditional low style of the sights). The triggers are light and petite, but still strong and well shaped. The walnut stock is excellently proportioned, as dark as I had hoped with no lighter or included areas, and has a nice tight grain. The instruction sheets are clear and the procedures laid out in the order of assembly.  

   I could go on, but will instead say that this is the finest "kit" I have ever seen. I will definitely recommend this kit to even the most novice builder (like myself).

Thanks to Jim and Katherine for this amazing effort !
 
Sgt Tom  

Ditto here except for the instruction sheet. Didn't get any instructions. No matter. I will just put it together the way I do all my guns.

[Jim Kibler]

Sorry about that Frank!  I sent an email with the instructions.

Katherine

[Frank]

Got the instructions Katherine. 

Thanks

[N. Fraley]

I took delivery of my Kibler kit this past Thursday, but I didn't have a chance to open the box until this morning. I felt just as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning upon opening it. And wow- words escape me to explain how great this kit looks, from the fine quality of the stock to the preciseness of the inlet edges, etc., not to mention quality of the wooden shipping container. It really taxes the superlative! As a newbie, this will be my first kit to build out. I'll be doing the Chambers York kit at Bama's workshop in September, and I'm excited about that one as well, but I digress….

I only had a quick look at the various parts, but I will make sure all is accounted for when I take it out of the box. I'm really hoping that I'll get a chance to start on it later today. There is no doubt this is going to be a stunning little .40 caliber southern mountain rifle when it is completed. I'll be proud enough to hang it over my mantle AND use it in the field.

Many thanks Jim and Katherine for all your hard work in making this kit a reality. It was worth every bit of the wait!

N. Fraley

[mossyhorn]

Still waitin to see that first build! 

[Mike Brooks]

Still waitin to see that first build! 

Yep, 2 days O' work here and nobody has one done. Pitiful.

[omark]

Yeah!     Would someone please hurry up and get one done?    With a full report of course.        Mark

[Keithbatt]

Mine arrives tomorrow according to USPS.

[Mike Brooks]

Mine arrives tomorrow according to USPS.

Pictures of the finished gun by sunday?

[Kermit]

Walnut first--please? I gotta see one!

[Keithbatt]

Mine is maple and I'll bet done in at least one year.

[Mike Brooks]

Mines maple and I'll bet done in at least one year.

Well, that time frame is not very inspirational....

[Jim Kibler]

I've seen pictures of a few completed guns and heard of several more.  So they do exist!  My girlfriend, Katherine, will be with me at the Gunsmithing Seminar In June.  She'll be taking lots of pictures and maybe some video of the Mountain Rifle Kit Building class I'll be teaching.  It should be neat to see the progress everyone makes and the finished results. 

I'll also mention that we plan on doing some videos fairly soon as well.  These things are always tough since time is a premium, but we are making it a priority.  We're not really sure the format, but at least some will focus on specific gunbuilding tasks.  Some might just show you around the shop and introduce ourselves a bit as well.  So stay tuned...

Kits are still rolling out the doors.  There's always kinks to work out with a project like this, but we're starting to breathe a little easier.

Thanks everyone and like Brooks said, don't be afraid to share some pictures!

Jim and Katherine

[Keithbatt]

Mines maple and I'll bet done in at least one year.

Well, that time frame is not very inspirational....

Agreed. Not inspirational. But realistic. I'm in it for the long haul. I have 2 other builds in progress.

[Nate McKenzie]

Here are a few pictures of my first Kibler kit. 36cal. Built it in a hurry in 3 days including drying time.
Sorry about the picture quality. Too bright a day for such a dark gun and cheap camera.

[Kary]

3 days eh?...... What took ya so long?..... but in all reality, that's a fantastic looking rifle! Love the dark color, even though the camera didn't. If there was a percussion option available, I'd already have one myself.

[Mike Brooks]

 Nice. I'll eventually have to have one of those.