Author Topic: Just how quickly does a Kibler kit go together (Read 6771 times)

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **on:** August 31, 2018, 07:45:20 PM »

I hear a lot of good reviews of Kibler's CNC kits. Much of the advantage is that they make a truly fine gun while eliminating a lot of "by hand" work on the part of the kit assembler.

I've built TVM kits, and I've built Lyman GPRs from kits. The Lyman kits can be assembled one weekend and shot the next, by someone who already has a full-time job and a lawn to mow. The TVM kits requires the same guy months to find the hours here-n-there to devote to the work necessary to put it together.

So just how much faster does a Kibler kit assemble than a TVM?

sespe · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2018, 07:57:35 PM »

Well, it took me 3 months, but that was squeezing time in between the full-time job and a really scraggly lawn. Jim does it pretty much real-time in his video series.

Frank · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2018, 09:03:35 PM »

Took me about 2 days for the southern mountain rifle, plus drying time for about 4 coats of Chambers oil finish.

Same for the Colonial Rifle. Check out Jim's videos below.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=50252.0

Eric Krewson · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2018, 10:02:48 PM »

I think I had one of the early, less refined mountain rifle kits that I bought second hand. I drug my feet and only worked on it a few hours at a time. The trigger guard and butplate needed a lot of inletting, the triggers, and lock internals did not. Everything else had slightly undersized inlets that took a minimal amount of work to fit the components.

I added moulding lines, a toeplate, narrowed the comb and carried the wrist back into the butt more. These extras added a little time to the build.

It took me two weeks to complete the build with half of that polishing metal and adding multiple coats of finish on wood and metal.

I thought it came out nice;

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2018, 10:32:43 PM »

After seeing them I'm guessing I could do one in three or four hours, ready to be sanded/scraped and finished.

bama · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2018, 10:53:40 PM »

H**L Mike, with your reputation, when the kit found out it was coming to you, it would just put itself together and be ready for you to finish when you received it.

P.W.Berkuta · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2018, 11:10:45 PM »

In my opinion "speed" is not the thing you should be looking at. For me building a muzzle loading long rifle is a stress reliever. I try to take my time and do the best I can and even at that I will "occasionally" mess up. I build from a plank and have so since 1969. My first barrel inlet took me 4 weeks on and off. I recently purchased my first kit which is a Kibler Colonial Rifle Kit just to see what all the "hub-bub" was all about and I must say it is a dandy - I have yet to start it as I have other work to do first

.

Scota4570 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2018, 11:53:09 PM »

I've done four. Assembly of my last took about 8-hours working methodically over two days. I could probably bang one together in four hours but, why? It is not a race.

Finishing and decorating took much longer.

To me, it is an opportunity to have a near perfectly in-letted rifle. Trust Jim's in-letting, it is near perfect as is. The trick is not not mess up what is there. A person could work along with the videos and have a very fine result without having a lot of experience.

smallpatch · « **Reply #8 on:** September 01, 2018, 01:21:36 AM »

I've put 2 together.
First one.... 5hrs in the white.
Second one..... 8 hours in the white.
Couple of days to stain and finish.

hortonstn · « **Reply #9 on:** September 01, 2018, 01:28:57 AM »

I'm with Berkuta what's the hurry this is a great stress reliever if you want it fast buy one that's finished

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2018, 02:11:42 AM »

Ok here's my take. I have completed one for a friend. He bought it an I put it together.
Comparing it to the Lyman, old T.C. Hawkens, CVA etcs out there. Jim's kit is a night an day difference. Took me about 8 hours to put together. Stain an finish not included because depending on the type of stain your using plus drying time.
Also I might add it is a one hole shooting rifle. Ragged but one hole. If Jim refines it to much more you will pop the box open an it will assemble it's self.
Just my thoughts. Also I am by far a seasoned gun builder. Oldtravler

mony · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2018, 02:26:32 AM »

Mr. Krewson, that is one fine looking rifle. Both fit and finish.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2018, 02:29:20 AM »

OK guys, keep in mind I do this for a living and time is money. For stress relief I drink booze or go fishing or kill squirrels, not necessarily in that order......

WKevinD · « **Reply #13 on:** September 01, 2018, 02:41:09 AM »

If you watch Jim Kiblers build video you will see in real time a full assembly. The additional times others are talking about are finishing and embellishments.
Now Jim is very experienced with his kit but you can see that nothing he does is that complex and he has sharp tools.
I put one of his kits together and not including finishing I had about four hours and two beers. I too have built a number of rifles over the past few decades so that certainly helps and the beer was already cold.
Kevin

Iktomi · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2018, 06:28:51 PM »

I have about 5 hours into my Colonial, everything is fit save the nose cap and a tiny tweek here and there on the butt plate. Most of what I have left is finish work.

stubshaft · « **Reply #15 on:** September 03, 2018, 09:31:43 AM »

I had no intention to rush my Colonial build as it is a great means of relaxing. The other night I finally opened the crate with the sole intention of fitting the buttplate. In the blink of an eye (92 minutes later). I had fitted the buttplate, fitted the barrel and trigger plate, fitted the lock and drilled it for the bolts. The dang thing just falls together!

Bob Roller · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2018, 07:20:28 PM »

Quote from: P.W.Berkuta on August 31, 2018, 11:10:45 PM

In my opinion "speed" is not the thing you should be looking at. For me building a muzzle loading long rifle is a stress reliever. I try to take my time and do the best I can and even at that I will "occasionally" mess up. I build from a plank and have so since 1969. My first barrel inlet took me 4 weeks on and off. I recently purchased my first kit which is a Kibler Colonial Rifle Kit just to see what all the "hub-bub" was all about and I must say it is a dandy - I have yet to start it as I have other work to do first .

P.W. is right. Speed? Why is it needed? It's great in some areas of endeavor but ACCURACY is FINAL

Bob Roller

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #17 on:** September 03, 2018, 08:00:13 PM »

OK. I agree that hurrying is the first mistake in approaching a longrifle build - especially if you are new to it. And that is exactly the reason I am posing the question.

My son would like to order a Kibler kit, but the wait time is a couple months. That puts it close to November. The Wisconsin deer season is at the end of November. So we don't want to rush things.

Maybe he can assemble it to the point of in-the-white, hunt with it, then put the final touches at his leisure.

He's in college now, and end of November can be particularly nasty since professors schedule mid-term exams often during deer season (tsk - jerks). I think the best way might be to have option B well thought out. If he doesn't have the Kibler gun to a point that it can be useable - he'll have to have another gun ready to go.

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #18 on:** September 04, 2018, 01:38:30 AM »

I don't know the total time but I started putting on together late this afternoon. I installed the White Lighting liner and draw filed the barrel total time was 57 minutes which included unscrewing the lid from the shipping box to retrieve the liner (and other parts for assembly). If I don't forget I will record times here. This will be done in piece parts since I have little time to work on it.
Dennis

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #19 on:** September 04, 2018, 06:37:50 PM »

Last night and this AM I fitted the barrel/tang/4 tenons total of 67 min.
Dennis

Turtle · « **Reply #20 on:** September 04, 2018, 07:07:53 PM »

a caution-I put together one of these excellent southern rifle kits. the stock is wonderfully thin and fragile-be careful fitting and handling it.

Tim · « **Reply #21 on:** September 05, 2018, 06:28:24 AM »

Quote from: Turtle on September 04, 2018, 07:07:53 PM

a caution-I put together one of these excellent southern rifle kits. the stock is wonderfully thin and fragile-be careful fitting and handling it.

Hearing this makes me second guess putting my name on the waiting list for one of the mountain rifle kits. I do however like the way they look. How comfortable is the curve of the butt plate against your shoulder when You shoot it?

dogcatcher · « **Reply #22 on:** September 05, 2018, 08:49:25 AM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on September 01, 2018, 02:29:20 AM

OK guys, keep in mind I do this for a living and time is money. For stress relief I drink booze or go fishing or kill squirrels, not necessarily in that order......

I am the opposite, if I work at it like it I am getting paid, I would be spending more money on kits. So I take my time, my paydays ended 19 years ago, I have to make what I have left until I am ready to meet my maker. Today speed never is an issue, I am always stopping to smell the "roses".

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #23 on:** September 05, 2018, 03:17:48 PM »

Quote from: Timbotide on September 05, 2018, 06:28:24 AM

Quote from: Turtle on September 04, 2018, 07:07:53 PM
a caution-I put together one of these excellent southern rifle kits. the stock is wonderfully thin and fragile-be careful fitting and handling it.

Hearing this makes me second guess putting my name on the waiting list for one of the mountain rifle kits. I do however like the way they look. How comfortable is the curve of the butt plate against your shoulder when You shoot it?

Yes the forearm is thin and you need to be careful taking the barrel/tang in and out. The key is not to force the barrel/tang in so tight you can not get it out. Try it if too tight take it out and remove wood where binding until barrel/tang slip in and out without forcing it.
Dennis

Turtle · « **Reply #24 on:** September 05, 2018, 04:03:51 PM »

there is another post here showing a split for end on one. Again no fault of the kit.

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Author Topic: Just how quickly does a Kibler kit go together (Read 6771 times)

sespe

Iktomi

Turtle

Turtle