Where/how can I start

[ChrisLD]

Hello all, working on finishing a kibler kit and have been dabbling with the idea of building a more “from scratch” gun next. I have really enjoyed the process thus far. I am located in SWPA and am wondering where I can learn more about what tools, and materials are needed and where to source them to build a custom gun. Can someone point me in a direction to get started ?

[ChrisLD]

I just found the tutorials section of the forums. I will be sure to check out all this awesome free information! Thank you to all those that helped create.



open for any suggestions, or general conversation about how you got started. Things you wish you knew earlier.

[ed lundquist]

Welcome, Chris I don't know your skill level so excuse me if I am stating what may already be obvious to you.  Learn to sharpen! There are many techniques you can study on utube, woodworking suppliers often have tutorials, the library is a good start. Get a couple of chisels and work at it.  Learn to file correctly, it makes a difference in the quality of your product. You will make mistakes, the folks here will help you fix them, they are opportunities to learn.  Buy a good vise, there is plenty of info on that here.  Good lighting is a must.  Don't be in a hurry, patience pays.  Buy the best you can afford, quality tools are an investment that will lead to less frustration, same with parts. Plenty of smarts on this forum to add to my list. Good luck and have fun.

[smylee grouch]

Welcome Chris. You can learn a lot in the tutorials and there are some great books and videos out there as well. AND this site can be a great resource for help with any questions or problems that you might have on your journey.

[Ky-Flinter]

Hi Chris,

Welcome to ALR.  I've seen mention of LR building classes at some historical sites in PA, but I don't know if they are still held.  Hopefully some of our other PA members will chime in on that.

I will recommend a book, Recreating the Kentucky Rifle, written by William Buchele.  It has been reprinted multiple times and revised and updated by George Schumway and Peter Alexander.  I used it to build my first longrifle back in the days before Al Gore invented the Internet.

Have Fun!

Ron

[PEARL DRUMS]

Here is a short version of my path. Put a woodsrunner together from Jim. Asked here and another forum where to start with a plank. Bought a 1/4” and 3/8” quality chisel, a 3/8 gouge, a 48” 3/8” drill bit and a 2” thick maple plank. From there I used golden mean flintlocks YouTube channel to get a better understanding of how to lay out a rifle. Then built one. I didn’t post it here as it’s not historically accurate and this crowd doesn’t care for firearms otherwise. I’m very proud of my first effort. Welcome to your new hobby 

[rich pierce]

The Southern Ohio Artisans Workshops organized by Ian Pratt and others has outstanding reviews.

[Daniel Coats]

Use the Kibler you have now as your guide.

[TommyG]

If you can make the Gunmakers Fair in Kempton PA the last weekend in July, you will have 2 1/2 days of seminars and demos from some of the nation's top builders for only $5 a day.  There will be basic things covered like inletting and sharpening all the way up to more advanced items like carving, engraving and patchbox construction.  Would definitely be worth the trip.

[ChrisLD]

I have literally no skill, or experience other than assembling a kibler kit.


Have worked with hand tools, some machinery on and off my entire life. I have a construction background but no longer work in that industry. So I understand most tools, and could definitely learn to improve.


I was listening to a podcast where a gentleman said that some places have blueprints essentially? Is this the way to go? My kibler is a Fowler and I would like to build a Woodsrunner or SMR for my first build.

Are band saws, routers, planers, etc used most commonly? If they are, I’m not sure that this would be a wise route for me to go. I have a young family, and while I do well working for the power company I know that sort of tooling investment is very expensive

[ChrisLD]

I was looking at the Kempton gun makers fair. It is about 4.5 hours from me. I would love to go but not sure it’s in the cards this year realistically.

[mikeyfirelock]

Don’t be intimidated …….its not as difficult as it looks initially. I started my first gun in my dorm room at college,
It did the small stuff on a little clamp on vice clamped to the back of my desk chair.  I finished it at home after I had the little parts filedout. Remember the old timers did this out in the woods with fire for a heat source and hand tools.  You do need a place to work , a bench, some tools ( you don’t need a lot of fancy power tools….I use almost all hand tools with the exception of maybe a drill.   What you do need is…..patience and one of the books on building that takes you step by step thru the process and there are several good ones.
mikeyfirelock. Go for it.

[ChrisLD]

What book would you recommend mikey

[rich pierce]

Hard to do without a bandsaw and drill press. I’ve done it - you have to throw away the clock and calendar. Most people now building from a blank buy a barrel and a piece of wood and get somebody to machine inlet the barrel and make the ramrod groove and drill the ramrod hole. This saves at least 1/4 of the time required to build a gun. Best if you take a barrel to someone who has blanks and that capability. Shipping wood and barrels takes time and money.

A blank build will cost you at least as much as a CNC kit. And you’ll make lots of mistakes and learn a great deal. Worst case scenario, someday you restock the parts. No doubt you can make a good functional gun.

There’s not much point in my view to build from a blank, exactly what Kibler makes available.

I’d sure look for a builder in your area who could provide some guidance. I’d get books and watch videos, but I like books better.

Just my thoughts.

[Bill Raby]

Here is a link to a few hundred gun building videos

https://rumble.com/user/BillRaby

[Daryl]

You just get into it, then all of a sudden, you're at Dixon's gun maker's fair (or equivalence).
This isn't me.

[J.D.]

There are several videos on gun building on the Kempton Gunmakers fair, YouTube  channel. These videos are a very small sample of the information available, each day, at the seminars at the gunmakers fair. There are also quite a few good building DVDs available at the Log Cabin Shop, and I second Bill Raby's videos on Rumble. There are also several other, on line, videos about gun building, however, some of the people who post those videos are not well versed in gun building, others are.
For someone who has little to no machinery, you might check out Curtis's thread, on this site, for building a Hawken Rifle.

I also recommend buying a few DVDs, or thumb drives of, very well done, very detailed, photographs of original longrifles from the Kentucky Rifle Association. The gunmakers fair is also an excellent place to see and, often, handle original longrifles.

There are several dealers selling gun stock blanks, who will inlet the barrel and drill the ramrod channel in PA. I received a nice stock blank, today, with a very well done, barrel and ramrod inlet from Mark Wheland, from Williamsburg PA,  and Knob Mountain is in Berwick, for example. 

https://www.youtube.com/@GunmakersFairatKempton

Good luck and have fun learning the skills to support this, often frustrating, and very satisfying hobby.

J.D.

[Ats5331]

Where in Southwestern PA? There is a club in the Ligonier area where 20 some makers meet, hold demos, have guest speakers, etc.

PM me for details if you are interested.

[Brian Jordan]

Chris LD, I also live in southwestern PA. You can message me if you like.

Ats5331 I sent you a message about the Ligonier gun builders group.

[whetrock]

There’s not much point in my view to build from a blank, exactly what Kibler makes available.

Rich, there are two ways to interpret this comment. Those of us who know you and know your work can no doubt read it the way you intended it, but to clarify:

1. There's not much point in my view to build from a blank. It's a waste of time. Better to go with what Kibler makes available.

2. There's not much point in my view to build from a blank a rifle of the same style and pattern that Kibler makes available. If you want to build from a blank, at least pick a different style and pattern. Don't just copy a Kibler pattern (even though they are nice patterns).

 

[rich pierce]

There’s not much point in my view to build from a blank, exactly what Kibler makes available.

Rich, there are two ways to interpret this comment. Those of us who know you and know your work can no doubt read it the way you intended it, but to clarify:

1. There's not much point in my view to build from a blank. It's a waste of time. Better to go with what Kibler makes available.

2. There's not much point in my view to build from a blank a rifle of the same style and pattern that Kibler makes available. If you want to build from a blank, at least pick a different style and pattern. Don't just copy a Kibler pattern (even though they are nice patterns).

#2!!!!  I’m one who loves diverse builds. Seeing a new rifle or smoothbore that has been designed and executed by the builder is exciting for me. I understand that some coming into the craft only know of a few styles and only from available kits. I have turned Kindig’s Golden Age book and the Rifles of Colonial America into raggedy old books, studying originals for over 40 years I guess. I recommend books like that, which offer a look at many different styles.

[ChrisLD]

I am doing my research on what model I would like. I am thinking a Virginia long rifle. My knowledge of PC guns is minimal. I am new to this hobby.

When I said a woodsrunner, I meant something similar 

[ChrisLD]

I am interested in the ligoneer group. That is only 1.5 hours from me!


Great help so far. I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to this. I have already learned a lot. I am looking at a beck kit, as well as an early Virginia. I am using becks finishing oil and wax now on my kibler and it is coming out stunning.

[flintlock hunter]

    Were are you from in WPA? I am from Brownsville if that is close to you. Message me if you like, I may be able to help you out.  Barry

[ChrisLD]

Hey Barry, I’m in slippery rock