Author Topic: Track of the Wolf kits (Read 4231 times)

577SXS · « **on:** December 19, 2019, 06:17:05 PM »

I've built several Chambers kits and I'm thinking of building a TOTW John Bivins kit. How do the TOTW kits compare to Chambers kits? Quality? Is there much wood to work with. The last two kits I built I was very limited on what I could do because of lack of extra wood.

FlintFan · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2019, 07:47:12 PM »

That particular kit will be pretty similar to a Chambers kit as to it's pre-determined shaping. There are other kits (more like parts sets) that use Pecatonica stocks, that have much less pre-shaping and inletting done to them.

It sounds like you might be ready to graduate to building from a blank, that might be a better choice if you are looking for more control of your final project. Could be something to consider.

SingleMalt · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2019, 07:52:34 PM »

I agree with FlintFan. Building from a blank is actually easier than you think. Even cutting barrel channel isn't bad.

577SXS · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2019, 07:54:35 PM »

Thanks Flintfan,
What Chambers kit is like the Bivins kit? I'm building a Mark Silver Virginia Chambers kit now. Yes I've thought about building one from scratch but hate the barrel channel work. Maybe I'll get a blank that has most of the channel cut out.

FlintFan · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2019, 09:10:59 PM »

I have to add a bit of a correction, I confused Track's Issac Haines kit with their Bivins kit. Their Isaac Haines kit has a much more fully shaped and inlet stock, similar to a Chambers kit.

Their Bivins stock, is left square forward of the lock panels, so yes, there is more wood left on that one.

I know kits seem to be all the rage now, but you will learn much more and your skills will progress further if you take on building from a blank. There are people out there who are able to inlet your barrel into a blank and even mill the ramrod groove and drill the hole if you desire. I don't have their names on the tip of my tongue, but a quick search on the site should turn up a couple of them.

Good luck.

Bill Raby · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2019, 10:26:35 PM »

Building from a blank is easier than building from a kit.

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2019, 10:30:57 PM »

Depends on kit.

rick/pa · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2019, 10:38:04 PM »

I've always used semi inletted pre-carves until the last one which was a TOW Bivins with the lock inletted. Never again! The lock inlet was too far back by 1/16" and I had to cut into the face of the breech plug and dish it out to get the touch hole to the point it was reliable. I'd advise against using a blank with the lock inletted. My next one is a plank I bought from Dunlap and sent to Dave Keck for the barrel and ramrod channel to be cut. I'll do the rest.

Scota4570 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2019, 10:54:42 PM »

Anyone have references for guys who cut barrel channels and ramrod grooves in square blanks?

I agree that regular semi-inletted and shaped stocks often take more time dues to working around mistakes that came built in. Often the final product is compromised due to built in flaws.

FlintFan · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2019, 10:54:55 PM »

Dave Keck, that's the name I was looking for. As Rick mentioned he can inlet the barrel and cut the ramrod channel and hole.

rick/pa · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2019, 11:02:27 PM »

Here's Dave's web site. http://knobmountainmuzzleloading.com/

The best thing for me is that my daughter lives in Harrisburg which is only about an hour south of Dave's shop. When I went to visit her, I picked up the stock and barrel at the same time. I exterminated two fowl with one projectile.

satwel · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2019, 11:19:47 PM »

I built TOTW's type D French trade gun. I opted for the pre-carve that didn't have the lock inlet. That gave me total freedom of lock choice as well as positioning the pan with the vent. Ask them if you can get a pre-carve stock without the inlet for the lock. The trade gun turned out great.
I'm now in the middle of building their Jaeger kit and so far, I'm happy with it. I did have to move the barrel back a little bit to align the vent location with the pan. Not a huge deal, but somewhat annoying. I think this may be my last pre-carve purchase. As other posters have correctly pointed out, building from a blank is actually easier since you don't have to fix the problems that often come with pre-carved stocks.

Have you checked with Knob Mountain? They offer swamped barrel and stock blank combos. You can get swamped barrels inlet into blank stocks but with the ramrod hole drilled. I had great results with their JP Beck barrel/stock combo.

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2019, 11:20:02 PM »

David Rase on here will do it for you also. Also Dennis Preddy from Michigan does an outstanding job to...but half the fun is doing it your as long as you practice a little before you start on your good plank..

Oldtravler

Jason C · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2019, 11:26:36 PM »

@Looper here does a does a good job inletting as well and has several patterns to get you a general shape.

moleeyes36 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2019, 12:44:17 AM »

Quote from: FlintFan on December 19, 2019, 10:54:55 PM

Dave Keck, that's the name I was looking for. As Rick mentioned he can inlet the barrel and cut the ramrod channel and hole.

Dave Keck has inlet the barrel, cut the ramrod channel, and drilled the ramrod hole on a few for me using his blanks. I’ve always been pleased with both the inletting and the quality of the wood.

Mole Eyes

ajcraig · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2019, 01:16:27 AM »

If you go with the TOTW kit you will likely need to set the barrel further back in relation to the lock mortise - as noted above, the lock mortise places the pan of the lock behind face of the breach plug. I had to move my barrel at least 1/4" back.

Eric Krewson · « **Reply #16 on:** December 20, 2019, 01:22:49 AM »

You don't want a pre-inlet lock mortise, bad, bad, bad!

looper · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2019, 02:22:59 AM »

Not all stock makers are the same. It’s entirely unfair to claim a whole industry as incompetent based on one bad inlet job.

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #18 on:** December 20, 2019, 03:40:46 AM »

Quote from: Looper on December 20, 2019, 02:22:59 AM

Not all stock makers are the same. It’s entirely unfair to claim a whole industry as incompetent based on one bad inlet job.

AMEN, not only does the stock man's skill set weigh into the equation, so does his machine AND the skill of whomever made the pattern. Hugh variables all come together in the final product.
Dennis

bob in the woods · « **Reply #19 on:** December 20, 2019, 03:50:15 AM »

When I have built from a pre inlet kit { Chambers] I always check the pan position of the lock against the barrel inlet.
You normally inlet the tang anyway, so it's not too difficult to set the barrel back a tad. There should be a little wiggle room. If the inlets are too far off, I'd send it back.

smylee grouch · « **Reply #20 on:** December 20, 2019, 08:38:19 AM »

One thing to consider with .
preshaped stocks and with the locks inlet is the barrel maker. Different barrel makers use different lengths of breech plugs so the pans might not index 100 per cent dead center. No real problem with straight sided barrels and some minor gunsmithing with swamped or tapered barrels.

rsells · « **Reply #21 on:** December 20, 2019, 09:40:54 AM »

I am much more happy when building from a blank. I have had issues around the barrel and lock relationship on some of the parts sets I have used in the past. It seems that I spend more time working around the work done on the stock before I get it in hand than starting with a blank. I use Mark Wheland to do my barrel and ramrod groves. I draw the profile of the stock pattern I am using on the side of the blank and tell him what width of wood I want between the barrel grove and ramrod grove. Mark gets everything spot on. I always mark the location of the breech end of the barrel as well. Jim's parts sets are a total different animal. I have never built one of his sets, but I have a couple friends who have and there is no worry with his work.
Roger Sells

thecapgunkid · « **Reply #22 on:** December 20, 2019, 12:50:22 PM »

BY and large, every one of those folks....Chambers, Track, Pecatonica, Muzzleloaders Builders Supply...have proven responsive and willing to work with you. Jim Kiblers Vids are worth the coffee it takes to down while going thru YouTube.

My last three guns, my best ( because between the forum and phoners with the Vendors I corrected a lot of mistakes), came from the assortment of components I got from each of them.

I'll ask that the lock mortise is left out if I ever order again, but Jim Turpins video makes a very good point...If there's a problem send it back and don't start work.

577SXS · « **Reply #23 on:** December 20, 2019, 02:37:16 PM »

Thanks for all the replies. Good information. Yes been there done that with lock inlet not in the right place.

alacran · « **Reply #24 on:** December 20, 2019, 03:29:01 PM »

I really do not consider a TOTW kit a kit. It is a bunch of parts and a pre carved stock. Wonder how many are sitting in closets because the buyer didn't have the skill set necessary to build it.
Mr Kibler's kits are kits. If you can read you can put it together.
I agree that building from a plank is easier. However I don't understand why so many respondents suggest that you have some one else do the barrel inlet and ramrod channel. Kind of like a pre carve without the shaping. You want to learn how to build rifles. Learn to do those operations yourself. You are really not building the gun if some one else does those operations for you. Just my 2 cents.

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Author Topic: Track of the Wolf kits (Read 4231 times)