Kibler Plains / Hawken kit

[AZshot]

I think it looks great.  I signed up on the wait list the day it was announced, or a day later.  Because I have confidence in Jim and what he does, I wanted to support him, and enjoy finishing another of his kits.  Plus, living out West in elk country, and living in St Louis for a while as a boy, it just seems fitting for me to have one.

[Jim Kibler]

The base price on the Kibler Hawken Kit is $1505. If he would have been making his kit as it is today in 1970 when the TC Hawkens first came out,
The price would be $180.00. I don't think TC would have sold many. The cost of things hasn't gone up the value of the dollar has gone down.

Wonder what a TC sold for in 1970?

[JPK]

In catalog #1 a TC Hawken listed for $195 .

[AZshot]

I just looked for an early Thompson Center ad, but can't find anything earlier than this one, 1979.  The dollar was hit by then by inflation and the gas crisis.  In 1970 $200 was equal to about $1600 today.

[CooleyS]

All I can say is nicely done Jim! It’s not a copy of any original Hawken, J&S or Sam, instead it is a JK Hawken and beautifully designed. I had a family member ask if I’d put one together for him because he wants a gun to pass down as an heirloom, so I got on the pre-order list the day it came out. As a dyed in the wool Hawken guy I can’t wait to put my hands on a JK Hawken.

-Steve

[David Rase]

The base price on the Kibler Hawken Kit is $1505. If he would have been making his kit as it is today in 1970 when the TC Hawkens first came out,
The price would be $180.00. I don't think TC would have sold many. The cost of things hasn't gone up the value of the dollar has gone down.

Wonder what a TC sold for in 1970?

In 1975 while stationed in San Diego, I bought a Thompson Center Hawken kit from the Patch and Ball gun shop on El Cajon Blvd for $125.00.  I don't know what a finished T/C Hawken sold for.
R/David

[longcruise]

The base price on the Kibler Hawken Kit is $1505. If he would have been making his kit as it is today in 1970 when the TC Hawkens first came out,
The price would be $180.00. I don't think TC would have sold many. The cost of things hasn't gone up the value of the dollar has gone down.

Wonder what a TC sold for in 1970?

I got my t  Hawken in 1974 at Target for $150 and that included a Lyman 490 mold with handles,  a powder measure and a short starter.

[Daryl]

Bought mine in '73. I don't remember the cost. Taylor had been shooting one, a flint model for a few years by then.
Maybe he remembers. Money, North and South was about on par then.

[Robert Wolfe]

I bought my TC Hawken (flint) kit in 1975 from Interarms in Alexandria VA for $130. That was a lot of lawn mowing.

[L T Grey]

A T/C Hawken kit the summer of 1977 was $140. Jim I like what you did with the buttplate and buttstock. With the wider plate the lines flow so much better than the pinched in originals.

[Scota4570]

I bought my TC Hawken (flint) kit in 1975 from Interarms in Alexandria VA for $130. That was a lot of lawn mowing.

That is what I paid in '75 for the same kit.  I got mine from an agricultural supply company that also sold guns.  The lock was a train wreck.  I eventfully converted it to percussion. 

[Robert Wolfe]

I bought my TC Hawken (flint) kit in 1975 from Interarms in Alexandria VA for $130. That was a lot of lawn mowing.

 The lock was a train wreck.  I eventfully converted it to percussion.

Yes, that lock was defiantly a poor performer. My percussion Hawken buddies had a lot of fun at my expense!

[mgbruch]

To the OP.  For Elk every year you can't beat the .58.  With moderate charges it shoots fairly flat out to 100 yards, is easy on the shoulder, and is accurate.

It's a thumper!  That gun, in a .58 will be a fantastic big game gun!

[ScottH]

Back on topic
Any if you that have placed an order, care to share what wood and or grade of wood you asked for? 

[AZshot]

When I signed up I started with Walnut, because I know how to finish it.  But changed my order to Fancy Maple, because I want to learn how to finish it.  And more traditional on a Hawken.

[alacran]

I think some of the things that Mr. Kibler has done with this kit are interesting. I'm sure some have been done with production in mind. I like the rear sights he used which are reminiscent of the Mariano Modena's sights. The tapered barrels to keep the weight low. His treatment of the tang area will not need retooling for a flintlock breech, should someone want such a thing.
Keeping in mind that most folks nowadays are rather wimpish, the lighter weight rifles make a lot of sense.
Overall very similar to one I made in .54 with a 34-inch barrel tapered from 1" at the breech to 7/8th at the muzzle. That one weighed in at 8.5 lbs.
As far as what a traditional Hawken is, no two are exactly alike.
Hopefully he will sell more than TC ever did.

[reddogge]

Jim I like what you did with the buttplate and buttstock. With the wider plate the lines flow so much better than the pinched in originals.

Not all of us feel that way. To me, that was a hallmark of a Hawken stock. But you could easily modify the kit to mimic that. If I bought one I surely would.

[Fauquier]

Jim, Many rifles with a deeply hooked butt plate are difficult to shoot from the shoulder like a regular rifle
or shotgun. Is this rifle intended to be fired from the shoulder ?
Second, how well does the rifle handle and  align when sighting from the LEFT shoulder ?

Thanks for producing a Hawkin with a reasonable  carry weight .

[Jim Kibler]

The buttplate has some curve.  I made it have a touch less than most Hawken originals, but it still has a fair amount.  Not as much as our SMR, but definitely more than our Woodsrunner.  It shoulders well, but it needs to be in the right spot.  That is, a touch further out than with an earlier style buttplate. 

The stock is straight, so it could be shot left handed with no problem.

[P.W.Berkuta]

I just love ALL of Jims rifles - they are top quality all the way! Top shelf workmanship cost but for the price you get more quality than anything else. I will equate it to buying a Randall Made Knife to a Buck knife. Both will do the job BUT holding a Randall Made Knife is a work of art - same with a Kibler rifle!

[oldtravler61]

  Being everyone knows I'm frugal I'm holding out for the $125.00 sale..!

[proud2bgeeky]

Back on topic
Any if you that have placed an order, care to share what wood and or grade of wood you asked for? 

I ordered a cherry stock in .50 caliber with the silver inlay.

[Steeltrap]

It's a beautiful work. No doubt. It appears that Jim has used his Bone Black in the finish process. I do love the look of that rifle.

Here in Pa. we are only permitted to used a flintlock rifle in the post Christmas "flintlock season". Now, a percussion can be used in "rifle season" or in the early "muzzle loader" season (and most simply use an in-line).

I've studied the photo's Jim has posted but I don't see a way to convert it to a flintlock. Jim has said he would not offer this in a flintlock as he has other models that are flints. I understand that, but for me to own a cap lock just doesn't make sense.

[Keyhole]

Back on topic
Any if you that have placed an order, care to share what wood and or grade of wood you asked for? 

I ordered the walnut stock with the patchbox and silver inlays

[foresterdj]

Mine is medium fancy maple in .58 caliber.