Man I Really Want a Kibler Gun

[James Rogers]

Hard to balance perfection and soul but Jim is one of the few that has the gift.
He tops it off with an attitude of humility and a willingness to share which is not the norm for his generation.
Can't wait to see a smoothe gun! 


http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2010/02/jim-kibler.html

[Acer Saccharum]

I happened upon that rifle this morning. Jim has such and eye for line and flow. Usually carving will fall apart when viewed in large format. Not so with Jim's work. The backgrounding is purt near flawless, and the the carving is exquisite in both design and execution. @!*%.

Sorry if I got lost in describing the decorative elements, because the gun is much more than carving. The carving is just the icing on the cake. The shape of the breech area is so gracefully done, a great big lock, with its thick humped breech area, slimming down beautifully toward the fore end and elegant buttstock. For me, a lot of thought goes into developing the form of the gun. It looks effortless to Jim.

Mighty fine work, Jim.

Oh, and I like this gun a lot.

Tom

[Tom Currie]

Havent been able to see one in person yet, but from pictures over the years Jim's work just keeps getting better for me. Everything Tom said above, and that carving has a wonderful feeling of depth for me.

[Jim Kibler]

Thanks guys!  I posted this in the contemporaty collecting section, but thought I would copy it here as well.  A little more about the rifle...  It's really not based on any particular original rifle.  The architecture is somewhat influenced by the early sliding wood box rifle Wallace attributes to Shenendoaha county Virginia.  The carving is a compelation of my own ideas and details from some European examples.  The rifle is 58 caliber.  I didn't want to wait for a custom barrel, so I profiled the exterior of this barrel myself.  It has a big breech and tapers rather quickly but doesn't have a lot of flare at the muzzel.  The barrel profile helps in acheiving the stock architecture which tapers pretty strongly in both directions from the breech area.  This architecture is similar to that seen on some fowlers and trade guns.  The wood is a good piece that originally came from Fredie Harrison and is stained with iron nitrate.  Not sure what I missed, but if you have any other questions just ask!

Thanks,
Jim

[eagle24]

Jim,

You need to screw up once in awhile so there will be some variety to your work.   It's all the same........BEAUTIFUL!

[Don Getz]

I fell in love with Jim's work from the first time he appeared on the scene, I told him he was Bivins re-born, it is so much like what John used to do.    Jim was born with several things that are hard to teach.......imagination, and above all else,
he is one heck of an artist.   I had a chance to look at the Kibler rifle owned by Charlie Wallingford at the Lewisburg show,
great gun.    This latest thing he has shown is just outstanding.............Don

[C Wallingford]

I have been fortunate enough to own two of Jim's pieces. I did let a fellow talk me out of one of them but I still have the one that Don mentioned. His work is superb. Carving is as good as it gets and besides all that Jim is a great guy!

[keweenaw]

Jim,

All I can say is that you're a brave man to put in those little comma accents.  That takes both great technique and a great piece of wood to not lose the edges.

Tom

[Jim Kibler]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement.  If you ever think I can help with anything, don't be afraid to ask.

-Jim

[pathfinder]

I look at these wonderfully executed guns and I feel like Brian Wilson of the Beach Boy's,who after listening to the Beatles Sgt. Pepper album, stated that it was "Musical Perfection,how can I possibly compare". I kinda feel the same. That gun is flawless. To me the breech area is the hardest to get to flow perfectly,and this one did. Outstanding! Truly inspiring

[rich pierce]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement.  If you ever think I can help with anything, don't be afraid to ask.

-Jim

OK, I'll ask you to make a rifle inspired by the Musician's Rifle.

[Jerry V Lape]

Jim, just out of pure envy, could you share how you fastened that beautiful butt plate to the stock?  Try as I might I don't see either screws or pins.  I have my own thoughts about doing this which is with screws from the patchbox into concealed lugs but maybe you have another method. 

[Jim Kibler]

Jim, just out of pure envy, could you share how you fastened that beautiful butt plate to the stock?  Try as I might I don't see either screws or pins.  I have my own thoughts about doing this which is with screws from the patchbox into concealed lugs but maybe you have another method. 

Jerry,

There's nothing unusual about the butplate attachment.  Just the usual two screws.  Must be the angle of the photographs that obscures them.  Don't think I would worry too much about the screws showing.  If they weren't there It might look a little odd.

Jim

[Acer Saccharum]

If they weren't there It might look a little odd.

Yeah, like a belly dancer with no belly button.