How many versions of the Woodsrunner rifle are out there?

[Darkhorse]

I get it that you right handed people are enamoured of Jims woodsrunner but to be honest they just look like most any other rifle to me.
Personally I think Wattlebuster's woodsrunner more embodies the idea of a woodsrunner to me. Now that is one fine rifle. If the day ever comes when I get a woodsrunner then one like that is what I want.

[TDM]

Luckily I’m right handed. My Kibler Woodsrunner kit should arrive in another month.

[prairieofthedog]

What does Wattlebuster's rifle look like? thanks.

[Mike Brooks]

There's one woods runner kit. Thats it. Once you've seen one, you have seen them all.

[Frank]

Only options are caliber and wood.

[Darkhorse]

 This is Wattlebusters Woodsrunner rifle. It was built by Jud Brennan.
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[wattlebuster]

Darkhorse the rifle you pictured is built by Jud but it is not a woodsrunner pattern. I do have 2 woodsrunner rifles one a 62 the other a 40 cal built from blanks by Joe Schell. Though Juds gun is kinda similar it is different. Below is the Schell built woodsrunners.

This is the 62


This is the 40


Both these are iron mounted that Joe forged. They were built before Jim Kibler came out with his woodsrunner kits

[Mike Brooks]

I actually have a tracing of the original "woods runner" gun that was owned by Reeves Goehring. He called it the "feather rifle". Wallace Gusler had the twinkie to it and called it the "woods runner". They were both at Friendship at the same time and were very obviously made by the same hand off of the same pattern.  Came across the pattern in a file cabinet a couple weeks ago. I'd have all kinds of anxiety if I built it because everyone would assume it's a Kibler kit.  Oh, what to do? I have all the parts too.....
 Maybe I'll just sell the patterns and finally make  ONE MILLION DOLLARS.....

[Hatchet-Jack]

I actually have a tracing of the original "woods runner" gun that was owned by Reeves Goehring. He called it the "feather rifle". Wallace Gusler had the twinkie to it and called it the "woods runner". They were both at Friendship at the same time and were very obviously made by the same hand off of the same pattern.  Came across the pattern in a file cabinet a couple weeks ago. I'd have all kinds of anxiety if I built it because everyone would assume it's a Kibler kit.  Oh, what to do? I have all the parts too.....
 Maybe I'll just sell the patterns and finally make  ONE MILLION DOLLARS.....

Mike make left handed woods runners!

[Mike Brooks]

I don't think I could make them with just my left hand....

[bobw]

Since Mike brought up the gun called “woodsrunner”  Wallace had, I need to ask if that is the gun he sold to Eve Ohrtmer (spelling?)?  Been around 15 years, but it seems the gun she bought sure looks like this woodsrunner kit gun Jim is making. 
Bob

[Dennis Glazener]

Since Mike brought up the gun called “woodsrunner”  Wallace had, I need to ask if that is the gun he sold to Eve Ohrtmer (spelling?)?  Been around 15 years, but it seems the gun she bought sure looks like this woodsrunner kit gun Jim is making. 
Bob

If I am remembering correctly, wasn't Eva's gun a European made gun?
I may be thinking of a different gun.
Dennis

[bobw]

Dennis, I guess I can’t say for sure on that.  I now remember her telling me that she now owns a gun shown in the RCA books.  But, I’m not sure the woodsrunner is.  Somewhere around here I have pictures of the gun.  I have wonder about the gun, so I guess I need to see if I can find them.
Bob

[Cody Tetachuk]

I'd have all kinds of anxiety if I built it because everyone would assume it's a Kibler kit.

Your dilemma is real. Building a "woods runner" from a blank is like shooting a big whitetail and hanging it on the wall. You MIGHT have put a lot of time and effort into getting that deer, but you might have shot it from the window of your truck also. Can't tell by looking at it. Building a Kuntz or an elaborate Jaeger is like shooting a Bighorn or Stone sheep and hanging that on your wall, pretty sure a significant amount of effort was expended to get it unless you hired a guide which would be like having someone else build the rifle and you just put the finish on it.

[Mauser06]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong....I believe the Woodsrunner and Feather Rifle are 2 different rifles.  I'd have to look back through my books. 

[Mike Brooks]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong....I believe the Woodsrunner and Feather Rifle are 2 different rifles.  I'd have to look back through my books.

They are. But they are nearly identical. They even use castings from the same molds and have the same architecture.

[rich pierce]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong....I believe the Woodsrunner and Feather Rifle are 2 different rifles.  I'd have to look back through my books.

You are correct. I’ve always thought the feather rifle could be a bit earlier. It has a wider, flatter buttplate. The two guns look to be from the same shop.

Mike and I were typing at the same time. I’ll go double check my notebook of articles.

[Dwshotwell]

Thread from a few years ago with pictures of both the WR and Feather Rifle: https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=49261.0

[rich pierce]

If anyone needs more info on the feather rifle I could send copies of the 2 articles I have kept, one by Wallace Gusler and the other by Peter Alexander. PM me if needed.