Kibler Longrifles going to the Next level!

[Hunterdude]

Glad to hear about the exciting developments at Kibler's!  Is there a timeframe on making left hand models of your current offerings? Thanks,

Eric

I'm not Jim, but I'll make a prediction. ....Never....

Guess that means I'll never get a Kibler ridle. 

Best regards
Rolf

Maybe I am wrong, but it seems the LH version need is overrated a bit?
   My grouse hunting buddy IS left handed and hunts with a RH gun....he Consistently hits more birds than I do!
   The safety on a modern (name that shalt not be spoken here) is a bit awkward, but has not slowed him.
    A Flintlock Cock does not care a bit what hand is used to draw it back....and half cock is the safety.
   The only other concern (I) can think of is the cheek rest....some rifles have a smallish rest and some have none. It seems the guy that wishes a Kibler took longer to build could just rasp off the cheek rest for a more slim look....or leave it on for resale value.
    If I have overlooked some ground shaking impediment? Please enlighten me.

[Austin]

Thats what the blind guy said….

[David Rase]

Maybe Jim could program his computer to not inlet the lock or sideplate, then you could inlet your own left hand lock, make a sideplate and file off the checkpiece.
David

[smylee grouch]

I wonder if the right hand stock has any cast off which might make it somewhat " off " for a leftie. 

[ericp]

Someday we'll make a left-handed kit, but I can't say when.  Someday....

Thanks for the reply.  I understand it's a low volume business compared to the righties of the world but I (and many others!) look forward to the day your kits are available for us left handers. 

Best,
Eric

[Hunterdude]

I wonder if the right hand stock has any cast off which might make it somewhat " off " for a leftie. 

Zero cast off Per Kibler website specs.

Quote:
    Stock has a pull of about 13.75” and a drop of approximately 3 5/8” and no cast off.

As a side note....where LH southern mountain rifles a "thing" in 1820? I am no Historian, just wondering if it is a modern thing or Historically correct for 1820?
    Now that I think on it, I do not recall Ever seeing a 200 year old Lefty Flinter....

[smylee grouch]

Well I guess, since you were talking grouse hunting I was thinking of a smooth bore not an SMR. Does his upcoming smooth bore have cast?

[Hunterdude]

Well I guess, since you were talking grouse hunting I was thinking of a smooth bore not an SMR. Does his upcoming smooth bore have cast?

I did use my left handed grouse hunting buddy as an example of a Lefty having good results with a RH shotgun, but my post was intended to help the poster(s) that keep asking for Jim's current "rifles" to be made in LH versions.
   I myself am left-handed, but also right eye dominance so shooting a "rifle" right-handed is natural for me. Having said that, I am use to solving LH/RH issues.....that is what got me thinking about not seeing any 200 year old Flintlock's with the lock on the left side.
    We likely will not know if the Kibler Fowler/trade gun has cast until Jim releases more info....but it would make sense to me that he might build it "straight" as an ambidextrous gun and the folks that just "must" have "cast" could add it in themselves if they know what they are doing, or hire it put in by a Professional.

[ericp]

It's really not a matter of need.  I've shot right handed guns and doubles all my life.  It's a want.  A desire to have good looking gun properly stocked with the cheekpiece in a useful place and the lock on the side away from my face. 


Eric

[Craig Wilcox]

I think left-handed firearms were outlawed by George III.  You never see one from his period.

I wish it were nothing more than flipping the CNC machine over, but there are a lot of holding fixtures, machine cut directions, etc., that would need to be reversed also.

Pistols are lucky - doesn't matter to them which hand they are held in.

While we are talking Jim into different rifles and such, how about a nice German Jaeger, say 1730-1750 or so.  Walloping large bore, rifled, sling swivels, ornately carved brass furniture?  Or a Rupp from the Golden Age?

And a number of reenactors would love rifles from the F&I or AWI periods.  Even War of 1812.  See, Jim, enough different ones to keep you and your family going for decades!

[Fly Navy]

I would like to see Kibler offer all of the Colonial brass parts in silver. I would buy two sets.

[varsity07840]

I'd like to see them in iron.

[Stoner creek]

I would like to see Kibler offer all of the Colonial brass parts in silver. I would buy two sets.

You can make that happen with the help of a foundry. All of his mounts are cast.

[Clark Badgett]

Well I guess, since you were talking grouse hunting I was thinking of a smooth bore not an SMR. Does his upcoming smooth bore have cast?

I did use my left handed grouse hunting buddy as an example of a Lefty having good results with a RH shotgun, but my post was intended to help the poster(s) that keep asking for Jim's current "rifles" to be made in LH versions.
   I myself am left-handed, but also right eye dominance so shooting a "rifle" right-handed is natural for me. Having said that, I am use to solving LH/RH issues.....that is what got me thinking about not seeing any 200 year old Flintlock's with the lock on the left side.
    We likely will not know if the Kibler Fowler/trade gun has cast until Jim releases more info....but it would make sense to me that he might build it "straight" as an ambidextrous gun and the folks that just "must" have "cast" could add it in themselves if they know what they are doing, or hire it put in by a Professional.

There is an original lefty French fusil extant.

[Jim Kibler]

Thanks for all the suggestions and enthusiasm.  We have to choose future projects very carefully as they of course need to have high widespread interest.  There are many projects I personally find interesting, that will either have to wait or may never happen because of this.  I'm sure this makes perfect sense.

We also recognize that new kit offerings have been way too slow in development.  As mentioned previously, we've gotten some help with this work this past year from Eric Von Ashwege and are looking at perhaps adding additional engineering help here as well.  Not to make excuses, but our business has grown so fast and to such a level, new products have become difficult.

Here are what we are planning for future projects in order they will be developed:

1)  "Woodsrunner" rifle project
2)  Higher end trade gun / fowling piece
3)  Hawken rifle (halfstock, percussion)


After this, future projects are somewhat uncertain.  Some possibilities are:

Pistol (type uncertain)
Lehigh rifle
Bucks County rifle

Thanks again for all the support. 

Jim and Katherine

[Jim Kibler]

I'd like to also mention that for projects beyond the trade gun we will need to obtain original examples for guidance.  We want these to be as "correct" as possible given the fact that many thousands of these will be built in the years to come.

So we will need to either purchase great original examples or work out some arrangements with current owners to use pieces for the development of kits.  If you have any leads that you think might work for us, please let me know.  As mentioned, the first need will be an original Haken rifle.

I hope this isn't overstepping any bounds by mentioning this here.  If so I can delete it or move it to a more appropriate location.

Thank you,
Jim

[oldtravler61]

  Jim I don't care what ya build. I shoot right or left handed. If I want a gun bad enough I will learn to shoot it.  Lefty or eighty
  Wish you all the best an thanks for all you an Katherine do..!!
Oldtravler

[Hunterdude]

I'd like to also mention that for projects beyond the trade gun we will need to obtain original examples for guidance.  We want these to be as "correct" as possible given the fact that many thousands of these will be built in the years to come.

So we will need to either purchase great original examples or work out some arrangements with current owners to use pieces for the development of kits.  If you have any leads that you think might work for us, please let me know.  As mentioned, the first need will be an original Haken rifle.

I hope this isn't overstepping any bounds by mentioning this here.  If so I can delete it or move it to a more appropriate location.

Thank you,
Jim

Jim, I would like to say that "any" posts by (You) are the MOST welcomed here on my "little" thread about the fine products crafted with care at Kibler Longrifles.
    I myself refrain from sending you dozens of questions by email as I know you are Very Busy at work making the products we enjoy so much. Having said that, I think it's great to have a venue here to communicate directly with your potential customers.
   While waiting on a current kit order to ship OR dreaming of the "new" kits you will bring to market....I personally appreciate any tidbits you can share as time allows.
   As we just hit 10,000 views.... this "little" thread has greatly eclipsed even the long running "Patch lube" thread....closer to "talk of the town" rather than irrelevant

[JTR]

Jim, Do you ever find time to build your fantastic custom rifles any longer?
John

[Jim Kibler]

Hi John.  No, not much time for any custom work.  We have twelve people working in the shop and it requires a lot of attention.  We're hoping to hire some skilled help and hopefully, that will take a little bit off my plate. 

My ultimate goal is to get back into doing some custom work when the business is mature enough to sustain itself.  We'll see...

I absolutely love 17th century French and English work and I occasionally feel the itch to get involved in it.  Someday I'd like to make some super high-end work of this period that might have a number of specialists working for me on the project.  I can get excited about this!

Thanks,
Jim

[Panzerschwein]

My heart soars like the hawk to see an American man, wife and team do so well. Mr. Kibler and crew are revolutionizing the hobby and making a “top class rifle gun” available to the masses. God bless you sir!!

[Stoner creek]

Be still my beating heart 💗💋

[David Rase]

If memory serves me right, there were several other husband and wife teams that preceded the Kiblers that revolutionized our hobby.  Bud  and Dottie Siler and Jm and Karen Chambers come to mind.  Nothing new here, let's move on.

[Panzerschwein]

If memory serves me right, there were several other husband and wife teams that preceded the Kiblers that revolutionized our hobby.  Bud  and Dottie Siler and Jm and Karen Chambers come to mind.  Nothing new here, let's move on.

Wow, didn’t mean to raise your ire, David. A bit ill tempered of a comment.

I plead the 1st. He deserves praise for making not only an excellent quality kit, but one very easy for the average person to assemble a fantastic rifle out of and all for a stellar price with quick delivery. It opens up the sometimes daunting hobby of rifle building to an exceptionally wide audience, evident in Jim’s success. Of course the others that came before him are to be lauded, too.

[L Meadows]

If memory serves me right, there were several other husband and wife teams that preceded the Kiblers that revolutionized our hobby.  Bud  and Dottie Siler and Jm and Karen Chambers come to mind.  Nothing new here, let's move on.

Hmmmm, nothing new? LOL, let’s move on? Yes Jim, please move on with more great products!