Really appreciate all the helpful replies. I've been trying to figure out next steps here but all the insights have given me some perspective. Its true that the builder I used is not a professional gunsmith. I called several in the area (Front Range, Colorado) but none would take on the project. It is of course a risk to use a non-professional but I visited his shop and spent 6 hours working on the rifle with him. Based on my time with him I was fully confident that for the $500 I would pay him I would receive a completed and solid gun...
If anyone has any recommendations of long rifle builders who might take on this repair and refinish project I am all for suggestions. I still have the box the kit came in so I am willing to ship it if need be.
The top jaw screw was bent due to dry firing the lock, either by the gunsmith or you.
I have only triggered the lock when a flint was securely in place. When I handed the kit over it was in fine shape...
Remember guys there are two sides to every story. The original poster said the rifle was 40% complete and he had run into problems. Was the rifle 40% complete or 40% hosed up? What happened to the triggers? Was the stock cracked by driving a too tight ramrod into the hole/channel? I’d like to hear the “builders” side of the story.
Completely agree about two sides to every story. which is why I didn't use harsher language and tried to remain fair. When I handed the kit over there were no issues whatsoever with the wood or the hardware. I decided BEFORE any real problems arose that this was just more than I had in me. Mostly due to the fact I don't have my own shop. I used a shared makerspace and had to pack up and unpack the entire project every day. I felt like I would ruin the stock at some point doing this. Before handing it over to the builder I had successfully fitted the butt plate, finished what little inletting there was for the triggers, lock, and barrel. Before leaving him with the kit we fitted the underbarrel lugs and sights together in his shop. The crack in the stock came from drilling the ramrod hole. He used a power drill on it...
It is for me a little bit irritating , that the OP apparently is not taking part on the discussion. But he only mentioned, "an old retired Air Force dude who has built 20+ rifles and had 2 in progress when I went to his shop. " No gunsmith.
It seems not to be so easy to finish a Kibler Kit!
I have put together ten or more spanish replica kits back in the 1980s. A little bit of sanding, polishing, staining, blueing ....... that was easy to do!
But a Kibler Kit seems to require more skills! I wonder if my own skills would be good enough?
my apologies I didn't reply back immediately to all responses...To your point though, the builder did say the kit was much more challenging to put together than is suggested elsewhere, but it's my feeling he rushed through a lot of it without taking his time.
