Appalachian Barn Gun Kit

This Barn Gun variant uses flintlock ignition, specifically a late Ketland lock.

Options

Caliber

.32 Rifled .36 Rifled .40 Rifled .45 Rifled .50 Rifled .50 Smooth

Stock Wood

Plain Hard Maple Standard Curly Maple Fancy Curly Maple Extra Fancy Curly Maple Walnut Cherry Customer Supplied

Grease Hole

Grease Hole No Grease Hole

Configurations

Details (56 notes)

Ignition

This Barn Gun variant uses flintlock ignition, specifically a late Ketland lock.

Ignition

This Barn Gun variant uses flintlock ignition, specifically a late Ketland lock.

Ignition

This Barn Gun variant uses percussion ignition, specifically a drum-type percussion setup.

Ignition

This Barn Gun variant uses percussion ignition, specifically a drum-type percussion setup.

as a first/family build

Because the design is simple, this is one of the easiest builds Kibler offers. Marketed as a good first project, and one to build alongside a son, daughter, or grandchild. Fewer parts, simpler assembly, more time on the work itself.

grease hole recommendation

Grease hole is a recommended option. Holds a small amount of patch lubricant, is traditional on this style of rifle, and looks right at home. Available in every wood/caliber configuration alongside a "No Grease Hole" variant.

historical basis

Appalachian, 1800-1830. Jim drew this one directly from an original barn gun in a friend's collection. Configurations: flintlock or percussion, right or left hand (four total product listings).

hunting caliber recommendation

For hunting, Jim suggests .45 caliber. Large enough to take whitetail deer and still makes for an easy-handling rifle.

kit pricing

From $1,100 with Plain Hard Maple or Cherry (grease hole). Standard Curly Maple +$40. Fancy Curly Maple +$225. Extra Fancy Curly Maple +$425. Walnut +$225. Customer-supplied stock -$60. Everything included — lock, barrel, stock, all hardware. No deposit required.

left-hand availability

Barn Gun is available in both right-hand and left-hand configurations, in both flintlock and percussion. Left-hand is a distinguishing feature — all other Kibler kits are right-hand only.

mechanical specs

Flintlock, late Ketland lock (right hand). Calibers .32, .36, .40, .45, .50 cut rifling plus .50 smoothbore. 38" swamped barrel, 1.00" at breech, .750" at waist. Length of pull 13 3/8", drop at heel 2 3/4", drop at comb 1 5/8". Single trigger ~2.5 lb pull. Weight ~6-7 lbs depending on caliber. Iron hardware throughout. Triggerguard pattern hand-forged by Ian Pratt. Two ramrod pipes, lock bolt washers. Period: Appalachian 1800-1830.

positioning

A plain working rifle built for use rather than show. No buttplate, no nose cap, no entry pipe, no sideplate, no patchbox. The rifles that "fed families and stayed by the door" in the most rugged country in the eastern US. Jim drew it directly from an original barn gun in a friend's collection, true to the period.

Barrel dimensions

Barn Gun barrel is 38" swamped, 1.00" at the breech and .750" at the waist.

Barrel profile

The Barn Gun is built around a 38-inch swamped barrel, and the finished rifle is light and well balanced, comfortable for most shooters.

Barrel style

The Barn Gun barrel is swamped (tapered and flared), the same general barrel style used on Kibler's longrifle kits, scaled to 38 inches.

Build difficulty

Because the design is simple with fewer parts, the Barn Gun is one of the easiest builds Kibler offers, and a good first project to build alongside a son, daughter, or grandchild.

Caliber lineup

Barn Gun calibers are .32, .36, .40, .45, and .50 cut rifling, plus a .50 smoothbore option.

Cherry price delta

Cherry is priced the same as plain hard maple, with no price delta.

Customer-supplied stock price delta

Customer-supplied stock reduces the Barn Gun price by $60 from the plain hard maple base.

Deposit policy

No deposit is required to place a Barn Gun order.

Design and machining ownership

The Barn Gun's design and machining are Kibler's own; the hand work and finishing are left to the builder.

Design simplicity

The Barn Gun has no buttplate, no nose cap, no entry pipe, no sideplate, and no patchbox, true to the original design.

Drop at heel and comb

Barn Gun drop at heel is 2 3/4"; drop at comb is 1 5/8".

Everything included at base price

Barn Gun base price includes everything: lock, barrel, stock, and all hardware.

Extra Fancy Curly Maple price delta

Extra Fancy Curly Maple adds $425 over the plain hard maple base price.

Family-build appeal

The Barn Gun's simplicity and fewer parts mean more time is spent on the actual hand work, which Kibler frames as ideal for a first project built alongside a son, daughter, or grandchild.

Fancy Curly Maple / Walnut price delta

Fancy Curly Maple or Walnut adds $225 over the plain hard maple base price.

Grease hole option

The grease hole is a suggested add-on that holds a small amount of patch lubricant; it is traditional on this style of rifle and is offered at no extra charge.

Hardware details

Barn Gun hardware is iron throughout, with a triggerguard pattern hand-forged by Ian Pratt, two ramrod pipes, and lock bolt washers.

Historical role

Barn guns were plain working rifles built for use rather than show — the rifles that fed families and stayed by the door in some of the most rugged country in the eastern United States.

Intro pricing tag

The Barn Gun product listings carry an "intro-pricing" tag; this pricing is intentional and is expected to remain in place for now.

Origin

Jim drew the Appalachian Barn Gun directly from an original barn gun in a friend's collection, so it is true to the period in both spirit and detail.

Period and origin

The Appalachian Barn Gun's period and origin is Appalachian, 1800 to 1830.

Plain Hard Maple description

Plain Hard Maple is the Barn Gun's base wood option, with no curl or figure premium, and is the least expensive stock choice.

Pricing philosophy

Because the Barn Gun's design is plain, Kibler can offer it at a lower price than their other kits, putting a traditionally built muzzleloader within reach of more people.

Printable spec sheet

A printable spec sheet (PDF) is downloadable for the Barn Gun.

Pull length

Barn Gun length of pull is 13 3/8".

Recommended hunting caliber

Jim suggests .45 caliber for hunting with the Barn Gun — large enough to take whitetail deer while still being an easy-handling rifle.

Smoothbore option

In addition to five rifled caliber options, the Barn Gun offers a .50 smoothbore option.

Standard Curly Maple description

Standard Curly Maple is a step up from plain hard maple, adding modest figure for $40.

Standard Curly Maple price delta

Standard Curly Maple adds $40 over the plain hard maple base price.

Trigger pull weight

Barn Gun trigger is a single trigger with approximately a 2 1/2 lb pull.

Weight

Barn Gun weight is approximately 6 to 7 lbs, varying by caliber.

Wood option lineup

Barn Gun stock wood options are plain hard maple (standard/base wood), standard curly maple, fancy curly maple, extra fancy curly maple, walnut, and cherry.

Base price

The Flintlock Left-Hand Barn Gun starts at $1,100, same base price as the right-hand flintlock version.

Base price

The Flintlock Right-Hand Barn Gun starts at $1,100.

Base price

The Percussion Left-Hand Barn Gun starts at $995, same base price as the right-hand percussion version.

Base price

The Percussion Right-Hand Barn Gun starts at $995.

Handedness

This Barn Gun variant is left hand, with a true left-hand lock and stock (not a mirrored right-hand part).

Handedness

This Barn Gun variant is right hand.

Handedness

This Barn Gun variant is left hand, with a true left-hand lock and stock (not a mirrored right-hand part).

Handedness

This Barn Gun variant is right hand.

Shipping start date

Kibler expects to begin shipping the Flintlock Left-Hand Barn Gun configuration around July 15; this is when shipping of this configuration starts, not the date a specific order arrives.

Shipping start date

Kibler expects to begin shipping the Flintlock Right-Hand Barn Gun configuration around June 15; this is when shipping of this configuration starts, not the date a specific order arrives.

Shipping start date

Kibler expects to begin shipping the Percussion Left-Hand Barn Gun configuration around August 1, the same target date as the right-hand percussion version.

Shipping start date

Kibler expects to begin shipping the Percussion Right-Hand Barn Gun configuration around August 1; this is when shipping of this configuration starts, not the date a specific order arrives.

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