Appropriate Carving on a Kibler Colonial? UPDATE: Finished Pics

[Daryl]

I think it will look better with some cleaning up of non flowing lines with kinks and corners. Not a lot of them, but some.
It's a whole lot better than I could do.

[Coal-Cracker]

I think it will look better with some cleaning up of non flowing lines with kinks and corners. Not a lot of them, but some.
It's a whole lot better than I could do.

REALLY appreciate the insight. Unfortunately, its too late for me to fix them. Hopefully, the kinks/corners are just a camera angle issue, as I couldn't wait any longer and had to keep going.

At this point. It is what it is.

If I'm being 100% honest, my biggest motivator throughout the build is that I wouldn't "turn a $1300 kit into a $500 rifle"

[mjohnson]

As someone who is waiting for a Kibler Woodsrunner kit, I think you did a fantastic job. I too do not want to turn a 1300 dollar kit into a 500 dollar rifle. Your carving is actually pretty elaborate. I like how the finish brought out some fine figure. Iron nitrate followed by oil like Kibler did in a video? I recently bought three pieces of figured maple to practice carving and finishing technique while waiting for my kit. Thanks for sharing your experience. Please share a few more photos. - Mike

[duca]

That really came out great!!

Anthony

[Coal-Cracker]

As someone who is waiting for a Kibler Woodsrunner kit, I think you did a fantastic job. I too do not want to turn a 1300 dollar kit into a 500 dollar rifle. Your carving is actually pretty elaborate. I like how the finish brought out some fine figure. Iron nitrate followed by oil like Kibler did in a video? I recently bought three pieces of figured maple to practice carving and finishing technique while waiting for my kit. Thanks for sharing your experience. Please share a few more photos. - Mike

Here's a couple more pics, with additional oil coats.
I used Kibler's Iron Nitrate with Jim Chambers Oil. I'm pretty happy with the tiger striping.

[Daryl]

Good looking rifle!!
I really like the colour.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Very nice!!!

[TDM]

I put a Woodsrunner in .54 on order last week with the extra fancy maple. Again, I think you did a very nice job on the carvings. I doubt that I will attempt to duplicate what you did. Just not there yet.

[Craig Wilcox]

Nice work, Coal.  Enjoyed watching your drawing skills change and improve with the ideas presented by others.

Were I to do the drawing and carving, I would be turning Jim's gorgeous maple stock into a pile of shavings.  Luckily, I do know my own limitations regarding decorating a gunstock!

Unless someone volunteers to do some carving for me, this .54 cal Woodsrunner will rely on the figure in the wood itself.  Which, considering Jim's selection of pretty maple, should be great.

First time working with one of his "kits", and everything, including the shipping box, is pure perfection!

[sgtmik]

I like your designs. I wish I had your talent. I'm thinking of doing my carvings as STICK MEN.

[sgtmik]

Very nice work. I wish I had your skill.

Mike O'Donnell