Finished my first Kibler kit:

[Wingshot]

A.54 cal. Woodsrunner, their version of plain maple stock, Jax black for all steel parts, Jax brown for the brass, aqua fortis, Danglers orange toner and Jim’s sealer/finish. Green Mountain square bottom rifling.

[Daryl]

Good job. Colour and finish very nice.

[Fred Hembree]

Congratulations on completing your Woodsrunner!

[Steeltrap]

Just WOW.

[Mattole]

Beautiful work! The rifle just glows with wellbeing in that light.

[Eric Krewson]

Beautiful! The only thing I would do is stain your ramrod to match the color of your rifle so it disappears under the rifle instead of being a focal point.

Like this;

[Wingshot]

Beautiful! The only thing I would do is stain your ramrod to match the color of your rifle so it disappears under the rifle instead of being a focal point.

Like this;

I had concerns about that myself, what I did do when I was finishing up the kit was apply a coat of Varathane “Gunstock” to the rod (I had it, so I used it) and then put one coat of sealer. I’ve since shot over 100 rounds through the rifle and I use the rod and it’s darkening up. I have to say I’m impressed with the hickory Jim supplied, straight grained and easy to flex, looks like it’ll last a good long time.

[Swamp ghost]

Turned out great ! Like the finish!

[AZshot]

Looks nice, enjoy shooting it too.

[Eric Krewson]

As a side note; the ramrod in my picture was stained with aqufortis first, it was a little lighter than the stock at first so I used a dilute mixture of Mahagony leather dye and alcohol and put on one thin coat on after another until I had the color match close to the wood of the stock.

[Chocktaw Brave]

Beautiful rifle! I am impressed by the looks of that “plain” maple stock.
I have been thinking of starting a second rifle build using a Kibler kit (I don’t want this one to take 40 years like the first😬), but I have been undecided on either the colonial rifle, or the woodsrunner.
I’m leaning more and more towards the Woodsrunner.

[Wingshot]

Beautiful rifle! I am impressed by the looks of that “plain” maple stock.
I have been thinking of starting a second rifle build using a Kibler kit (I don’t want this one to take 40 years like the first😬), but I have been undecided on either the colonial rifle, or the woodsrunner.
I’m leaning more and more towards the Woodsrunner.

Believe me, you won’t be disappointed.

[smart dog]

Hi,
Nice finish.  Did you cut the moldings along the ramrod channel and the lower butt stock or were those machined by Kibler?

dave

[Jim Kibler]

The moldings shown aren’t on his gun.

[Chocktaw Brave]

I really like the looks of the Jax Black finish on the steel. Too bad I cannot get any of it shipped to Alaska
 I wonder if there is a way I could mix some chemicals that would mimic this finish? I have darkened traps by boiling in walnuts, but it’s not too durable for constant handling.

[smart dog]

Hi,
I am not referring to Eric's example.  If you look closely at Wingshot's photos you can see the molding lines and they look very nice.  I just wondered if he cut those or did they come on the kit.  Wingshot, if you cut those they really add a nice touch and you did well adding them.

dave

[whetrock]

[Jim Kibler]

Hi,
I am not referring to Eric's example.  If you look closely at Wingshot's photos you can see the molding lines and they look very nice.  I just wondered if he cut those or did they come on the kit.  Wingshot, if you cut those they really add a nice touch and you did well adding them.

dave

Sorry, you’re right.  They do look nice!

[Wingshot]

Thanks for noticing! I did cut those lines in with the watchful eye of a builder friend who encouraged me to step up and add them. I really enjoyed assembling and finishing this rifle and it’s a great shooter to boot. I’m squirreling away some $$$ to get into another, probably Jim’s Fowler kit.