Beautiful rifle.
A question ...........Is the Kibler Colonial and the rifle pictured here basically the same rifle? If i could clarify my question further. Do these rifles represent the same time period and area of origin? They look like basically the same rifle to my untrained eye.
Probably the same time period, maybe some overlap in area of origin, totally different stock architecture though, so certainly not the same rifle.
I don’t know if Mark Silver (the designer of the Chambers “Virginia” rifle) used an existing original for the design, or did a more interpreted approach. At any rate, it appears Mark wanted something with a more English flare, hence the round toe and Fowler style butt piece, and other English attributes, that might point to a more Southern “Virginia” rifle. At any rate, it’s a great kit, and I think, makes a really nice rifle.
I think Jim’s kit is more of a “generic” rifle that would be absolutely appropriate for a rifle from the Lancaster, PA area, down through the Winchester area to the schools of Augusta, Rockbridge, and Botetourt counties of the mid portion of the Valley. Lots of options with Jim’s “Colonial” rifle!
That’s my take on the two rifles, anyway. Best,
Ed