Kibler's Longrifles Knowledge Base

Jim's Answers

1036 entries about Kibler's Longrifles rifle kits.

• A ramrod pipe screw hole cracked or blew out of the wood.
• Adjusting pin tension on a slotted underlug
• ALR as an information source with caveats
• Any tips for installing the pins that hold the ramrod pipes in place?
• Any tips for planning a carving design before cutting?
• Appeal of flintlocks as artistic and functional
• Apply finish in thin coats
• Applying bone black in successive coats
• Are barrels stainless or carbon steel?
• Are Kibler's barrels proof tested?
• Are Kibler's rifle barrels seasoned or hardened in any way?
• Are Kibler's stocks fully finished and ready to use straight from the machine?
• Are red maple, silver maple, and western big leaf maple all suitable for gun stocks?
• Are the barrels cast with the opening or do you drill it out of hardened steel?
• Are the barrels ready for bluing or do they need draw filed?
• Are the barrels swamped?
• Are the Colonial rifle and Southern Mountain Rifle made on older machinery than other Kibler kits?
• Are the flats on the barrels you make plained or milled?
• Are the holes for the trigger plate and lock already drilled and tapped in a Kibler's kit?
• Are the light and dark stripes in curly maple actually different hardness?
• Are the lock bolt holes, tang holes, and trigger plate holes pre-drilled and tapped on Kibler kits?
• Are the parts in Kibler's flintlocks cast or machined?
• Are the patch box lids on Kibler's kits pre-shaped?
• Are the ramrod pipe holes pre-drilled on Kibler's kits?
• Are the ramrod tubes pinned and the barrel tabs for the woodsrunner already installed and drilled on the kits?
• Are the tolerances on Kibler barrels and stocks tight enough to swap barrels of different calibers?
• Are the under lugs on Kibler's barrels dovetailed and fit separately?
• Are there any parts of the lock that would require polishing or the trigger assembly?
• Are there any plans for a kit that is a little shorter overall?
• Are you going to carve the lock and will you include a cap lock in the future?
• Are you going to supply a drawing of possible carvings and moldings used on the originals?
• Are you planning on engraving metal pieces as well?
• Baking soda and water solution for neutralizing iron nitrate
• Barrel boring and breech plug threading process
• Barrel seasoning or hardening is not done
• Batch production of Ketland lock plates
• Beginners can start with any kit style
• Bolster should contact the barrel
• Cabinet scraper, what to buy
• Can a flat file be used on a round barrel?
• Can American black walnut be made to look more like the English walnut used on original guns?
• Can cold weather affect applying stock finish or browning solutions?
• Can customers buy individual parts?
• Can dye stains be used to adjust the color after iron nitrate?
• Can I add carving to a Woodsrunner I already finished?
• Can I bring my own wood blank to Kibler's to have it made into a stock?
• Can I buy a Kibler's lock polished and engraved instead of in the standard finish?
• Can I choose my own carving design or pattern on the carved Woodsrunner?
• Can I get a Hawken barrel without the dovetails cut for the sights so I can do that fitting myself?
• Can I get a kit without the lock area inletted?
• Can I get a replacement barrel in a different caliber for my kit?
• Can I have a custom name or maker's mark engraved on my lock?
• Can I leave the barrel finish as draw filed, or do I need to polish it further?
• Can I order a Kibler rifle kit without a patch box?
• Can I request a specific rifling twist rate on my order, like 1 in 70 instead of the standard twist?
• Can I store a kit for several months before building?
• Can I use a power buffer to polish the brass hardware on my kit?
• Can I visit the Kibler's shop in person?
• Can iron nitrate stain be applied with Scotch-Brite instead of a rag?
• Can Kibler's build a custom rifle configuration, like a true poor boy without a butt plate or side plate?
• Can leftover dark stain be intentionally kept in some areas of a stock?
• Can lye stain be used to darken cherry wood on a build?
• Can lye stain be used to enhance the color of cherry wood?
• Can paper cartridges be used in a flintlock?
• Can tannic acid be combined with iron nitrate stain?
• Can the color of iron nitrate stain be adjusted or tailored?
• Can the pores in an ash stock be darkened for a striking look?
• Can we get a recipe of colors.
• Can we get an update on the fowler?
• Can you clean a flintlock's barrel while leaving the barrel pins in place?
• Can you diluent iron nitrate or aqua fortis?
• Can you do blanks for standard center fires?
• Can you go from 45 to 50 to 54 cal.?
• Can you guys do a video of using tannic acid and iron nitrate together?
• Can you heat a frizzen to change its color?
• Carbon steel liners erode faster than stainless
• Carving cast considered more useful than a book alone
• Carving cast made from a master carving mold
• Carving is the most significant way to enhance a Colonial rifle
• Checking barrel straightness in a swamped barrel
• Cherry wood is prone to breaking across the grain
• Chisels, what to buy
• CNC machining used for most lock components
• CNC-machined inlets require virtually no wood removal
• Colonial kit question, your barrels have a 1:72 twist rate, would that be optimal for shooting something like a minie ball in addition to the recommended patch round balls?
• Colonial rifle thimbles pre-drilled, mountain rifle thimbles not
• Colonial, Fowler, and Woodsrunner Hardware
• Company does not take custom rifle orders
• Company offers an introductory carving kit
• Company will replace defective brass parts on request
• Could a left-handed kit become more feasible in the future?
• Could I use iron nitrate on my tiger maple table?
• Could you use 2" planks of cured walnut?
• Diagnosing trigger binding after finishing
• Did all rifles from the Hawken era use a hook breech system?
• Did an original Hawken rifle inspire the design of Kibler's Hawken kit?
• Did Jim Kibler have building experience before starting the kit business?
• Did original Hawken rifles typically use set triggers?
• Did original longrifles always have a brass plate on the end of the patch box lid?
• Difficulty making a lower-priced kit around $750
• Do both sides of a carved rifle stock need to match exactly?
• Do I need a nose cap or toe plate on the SMR stock?
• Do I need extra wood left on my stock to be able to carve it?
• Do I need to install the touch hole liner myself?
• Do I need to neutralize iron nitrate stain after applying it?
• Do I need to remove the barrel every time I clean my fowler or Southern Mountain rifle?
• Do I need to remove the barrel to clean my fowler?
• Do I need to remove wood to assemble the Woodsrunner kit?
• Do Kibler's individually sold locks include a fly for use with set triggers?
• Do Kibler's kit parts require any fitting, or do they drop right in?
• Do Kibler's locks fit the mortises of rifles that originally had Chambers locks?
• Do not drill out the stock to fit a tight ramrod
• Do not use hardware store linseed oil
• Do other woods besides maple show curl figure?
• Do the ram rod pipes need fitting before installing the pins?
• Do the touch holes on Kibler's locks sit at the bottom of the pan, and can that cause hang fires?
• Do you brown or blue the lock?
• Do you ever run classes for customers who have purchased your Long Gun Flintlock kits?
• Do you need a drill to assemble the Woodsrunner or Fowler kit?
• Do you need to fit the barrel into the stock on a Southern Mountain Rifle kit?
• Do you need to soften the edges of the barrel flats after draw filing?
• Do you offer black walnut?
• Do you plan on selling parts like the butt plate and trigger guard for the fowler?
• Do you plan on the fowler being a Woodsrunner style kit or more traditional, more fitting required like the other kits?
• Do you recommend shooting conicals or bullets out of Kibler's rifles?
• Do you recommend staining walnut stocks?
• Does a machined buttplate have a better surface finish than a cast one?
• Does curl run all the way through a maple tree?
• Does curly maple require more allowance for wood movement than straight grain wood on a rifle stock?
• Does it matter if grain-raising water gets into the inlets on a stock?
• Does Kibler's attend gun shows like the CLA?
• Does Kibler's check the barrel fit before a stock ships?
• Does Kibler's ever sell seconds or discounted kits?
• Does Kibler's manufacture fully finished, ready-to-shoot rifles instead of kits?
• Does Kibler's offer a service to assemble a rifle in the white?
• Does Kibler's offer anything to help a builder learn to carve their rifle?
• Does Kibler's offer payment plans for kit orders?
• Does Kibler's offer shop tours?
• Does Kibler's take custom orders to build a full rifle?
• Does Kibler's use modern manufacturing techniques like 3D scanning to make historically accurate flintlocks?
• Does making the tumbler on the new bar feeder machine change the finish quality?
• Does my barrel have a touch hole liner installed?
• Does putting on a second coat of iron nitrate on ash change the color much?
• Does sunlight help cure an oil finish faster?
• Does the builder still need to do any finishing work on a Woodsrunner kit?
• Does the Colonial kit come with a patch box?
• Does the constant heating and reheating of the brazing process damage the barrel in anyway?
• Does the first coat of finish need to be thinned to enhance wood figure?
• Does the Fowler kit have any carving?
• Does the Hawken kit take a captured or non-captured barrel key?
• Does the Kibler Fowler kit have a standing breech that lets the barrel tip out?
• Does the Kibler Fowler kit include relief carving?
• Does the lock assembly come in the kit or is it a separate purchase?
• Does the machine carving on the Fowler kit need any hand finishing before it ships?
• Does the stock need to be prepped before applying iron nitrate?
• Does the touch hole need to be positioned exactly at the top of the pan for good ignition?
• Does the Woodsrunner kit come with the patch box option?
• Does wood hardness affect how much tannic acid stain a stock absorbs?
• Draw filing, what file to use
• Dry-firing the lock safely with wood instead of flint
• Employee Lorie handles office and some shop work
• End of relationship with Rice barrels
• English Fowler lock and specifications under consideration
• English walnut as optional upgrade for Fowler
• Engraving is a good customization for a fowling piece
• Engraving on long rifles is generally simple
• Example Colonial rifle stocked in walnut
• Family interest in antiques sparked interest
• Father's half-stock Ohio rifle
• Flint Size for Colonial, Woodsrunner, and Fowler
• Flint Size for the SMR
• Fowler barrel wall thickness
• Foxfire Series books as early influence
• Frank House consulted on lock design
• Frizzen still has significant CNC work
• Full tool list is extensive but not all required
• Get most stock color on early, not at the end
• Grandparents' old CVA rifle kit
• Green Mountain's reputation for accuracy and bore quality
• Has anyone seen or done a two tone finish on a carved stock like these, perhaps a lighter stain or color to accent the carving?
• Have you ever considered making a youth rifle kit?
• Have you ever made a stock out of cotonwood, hackberry, or American elm?
• Have you ever tried staining with homemade tobacco stain? (Ammonia & tobacco)
• Hershel House and Jim Chambers as influences
• High-solvent finishes can smear bone black
• How are Kibler's machined buttplates made before they go on the mill?
• How are Kibler's stock patterns created before machining begins?
• How are ramrod pipes pinned in place on the Southern Mountain Rifle?
• How are stock blanks stacked for kiln drying?
• How are the Fowler's ramrod pipes made?
• How are the pins for the Colonial kit's nose cap typically installed?
• How are the sights and ramrod pipes fitted on the Hawken kit?
• How can I clean the breech area of a Hawken that has no cleanout screw?
• How can I hold a trigger guard steady while polishing it?
• How can I make a walnut Fowler stock look more like English walnut?
• How can I stain walnut to look more like an English gun finish?
• How can you adjust pin tension if a barrel pin fits too loosely?
• How can you tone down a bright flintlock finish without browning it?
• How consistent is the trigger pull on Kibler's flintlock locks?
• How deep are the rifling grooves on Kibler's barrels?
• How deep should relief carving be cut on a longrifle?
• How did Jim Kibler learn to engrave?
• How do dye stains compare to iron nitrate on curly maple?
• How do I add a little play to a trigger that is too tight against the sear?
• How do I align the pinhole when installing the trigger pin?
• How do I apply the metal browning / iron staining finish?
• How do I clean up flashing on the ramrod pipes before installing them?
• How do I disassemble a Hawken lock if the bridle will not budge?
• How do I fit an investment cast butt plate to the stock on the Southern Mountain Rifle kit?
• How do I get a tight fit between the nose cap and the barrel and wood on a Colonial kit?
• How do I get scratches out of a Woodsrunner barrel before bluing it?
• How do I get the provided screws to sit flush in the butt plate's counterbore?
• How do I keep from rocking the file while draw filing as a beginner?
• How do I know how much free play the set triggers should have against the sear?
• How do I know where each key inlay (escutcheon) goes on a Hawken stock?
• How do I remove Prussian blue transfer color that got onto the exterior of my stock?
• How do I remove the breech plug on a barrel?
• How do I remove the trigger guard from the stock?
• How do I remove the tumbler from the cock on a Kibler's lock?
• How do I sharpen a flint that is not sparking well?
• How do I size down a ramrod so it fits the stock and ramrod tip?
• How do I tell the two lock bolts apart on the Woodsrunner?
• How do I trim and finish a pin after installing it?
• How do I use the drill guide bushing to extend a pin hole?
• How do the under lugs go into the barrel on a Hawken kit, and how do I know which one goes where?
• How do you actually draw file a barrel?
• How do you add more play to a rear trigger that feels too tight against the sear?
• How do you adjust the amount of travel on the front trigger?
• How do you apply bone black pigment to a stock?
• How do you apply iron nitrate stain to a rifle stock?
• How do you avoid breaking a stock when fitting the barrel tang into the barrel channel?
• How do you avoid green or gray colors when using aqua fortis (iron nitrate) stain?
• How do you avoid tear out when carving curly maple?
• How do you bring back warm tones after using tannic acid with iron nitrate?
• How do you bring out color in a cherry wood stock?
• How do you close a small gap between the buttplate and the stock after installation?
• How do you cut long straight lines cleanly when carving a toe molding?
• How do you engrave metal parts on a longrifle?
• How do you find where a lock is binding in its inlet?
• How do you finish the loading end of a ramrod?
• How do you finish walnut or cherry stocks to bring out their figure?
• How do you fit the front and rear sights into their dovetails?
• How do you fix a bowed ramrod?
• How do you fix an under lug that ends up a little loose after fitting?
• How do you get the bae metal patina look on the barrel?
• How do you identify a curly maple log before it's cut?
• How do you install the ramrod tip during Woodsrunner assembly?
• How do you keep a file from loading up with metal chips while draw filing a barrel?
• How do you keep Powder Post Beetles on of your maple?
• How do you know a flintlock sear screw is adjusted correctly?
• How do you make sure the wood is flush with metal parts like the butt plate and tang?
• How do you order a Kibler's kit with an unusual stock like bird's eye figure?
• How do you peen the brass screws on the Woodsrunner nose cap without damaging anything?
• How do you pin the ramrod tip in place?
• How do you polish and finish metal lock and mount parts?
• How do you prep a cast trigger guard before installing it in the stock?
• How do you prepare a pin before driving it into the stock?
• How do you press the cock back onto the tumbler shaft after disassembly?
• How do you prevent an unfinished barrel from rusting?
• How do you raise the grain on a rifle stock?
• How do you remove bone black pigment from an area where you applied too much?
• How do you remove the frizzen spring from a flintlock?
• How do you remove the tumbler from a flintlock?
• How do you remove the tumbler from the cock (hammer) on a flintlock?
• How do you rub back a tannic acid and iron nitrate stain to bring out contrast?
• How do you sharpen a card or cabinet scraper?
• How do you slot barrel underlugs without specialized equipment?
• How do you square up the ends of a ramrod pipe inlet on the Southern Mountain Rifle?
• How do you use bone black to darken a stock?
• How does a flintlock ignite the powder charge?
• How does iron nitrate compare to aniline dyes for staining a rifle stock?
• How does Kibler's approach mixing colors when staining a stock?
• How does Kibler's approach the design of its Hawken kit compared to original Hawken rifles?
• How does Kibler's choose the wood patch box lid that goes with a sliding wood box stock?
• How does Kibler's decide which new rifle styles to offer?
• How does Kibler's design a rifle based on a rare original like the Brown Bess?
• How does Kibler's machine its barrels?
• How does Kibler's make its own locks, and how are they different from other locks?
• How does Kibler's make parts like trigger guards and butt plates?
• How does Kibler's Mazak CNC machine work?
• How does lighting help when carving a background level?
• How does percussion ignition work compared to a flintlock?
• How does the Colonial kit compare in weight to the Woodsrunner?
• How does the hook breech system work on the Hawken rifle kit?
• How does the investment casting process work for gun parts?
• How does the ramrod tip attach to the ramrod?
• How does the set trigger on the Southern Mountain Rifle work?
• How does the trigger guard work on a Hawken style rifle?
• How does the Woodsrunner kit differ from the original rifle it is based on?
• How does your brass compare to cartridge brass?
• How hard is it to build one of Kibler's rifle kits?
• How heavy and well balanced is the Hawken kit compared to original Hawken rifles?
• How historically accurate is Kibler's rifle design compared to original longrifles?
• How is Kibler's flintlock different from locks that have traditionally been made using investment casting?
• How is tannic acid mixed and applied before staining with iron nitrate?
• How is the background cleaned up around relief carving?
• How is the barrel attached to the stock on the Hawken kit and why?
• How is the bridle located on Kibler's flintlock, and why does that matter?
• How is the lock bolt hole drilled and tapped so it lines up correctly?
• How is the nose cap attached to the Woodsrunner stock?
• How is the ram rod tip attached to the ram rod?
• How is the ramrod tip pinned onto the ramrod?
• How is the touch hole liner installed and finished?
• How is the under rib attached on the Hawken rifle kit?
• How is the under rib attached on the Hawken, and how are the ramrod pipes attached to it?
• How is the Woodsrunner kit packaged for shipping?
• How long does it take to draw file a barrel flat?
• How long does it take to machine a nose cap on the Mazak CNC?
• How many coats of bone black does it take to get a noticeable aged look?
• How many coats of finish does a rifle stock need?
• How many coats of iron nitrate are typically applied?
• How many hours does it take to machine each stock?
• How many times can I shoot a muzzleloader before I need to clean the barrel?
• How many times should I raise the grain on a stock before finishing it?
• How much decoration or carving can be done on the Colonial kit?
• How much drilling and inletting does a customer actually have to do on a Kibler's kit?
• How much material does the rifling cutter remove on each pass?
• How much slack should there be in the triggers on a flintlock?
• How much trigger play should there be before pulling the trigger on a flintlock?
• How often do you need to do a complete disassembly of a lock
• How should finishing oil be applied around carving on a stock?
• How should I deal with screw slots that are too small for standard screwdrivers on a rifle kit?
• How should I finish a barrel after sanding it to its final grit?
• How should I finish a carved Woodsrunner stock?
• How should I sand the area where the wrist transitions into the lock panel?
• How should I stain a stock with iron nitrate?
• How should I stain cherry wood and what should I use to finish it?
• How should ramrod pipes be checked and prepped so the ramrod hole lines up before pinning them?
• How should the nose cap screws be finished on final assembly?
• How should you sand around the lock panel moldings without damaging the shape?
• How the kit business started
• How thin are the barrel walls on the Kibler Fowler kit compared to a one-off custom gun?
• How tight of a fit should I expect between a buttplate and the stock before final fitting?
• How tight should a ramrod fit in the stock and pipes?
• How tight should the front and rear sights fit in their dovetails?
• How tight should the nose cap screw be tightened?
• How tight should the sight fit in the dovetail?
• How tight should under lugs fit into the barrel dovetails?
• How tight/loose should the trigger be on the pin for the woodsrunner?
• How to identify if a touchhole liner is installed
• How was the Hawken kit designed?
• How was the Hawken rifle used for product photos finished?
• How would a WoodsRunner have been finished historically, in terms of barrel and lock color?
• How would you add a tow plate to a Southern Mountain Rifle?
• I accidentally dry-fired the lock without a flint, did I damage anything?
• I accidentally over-cut the stock when fitting the trigger guard. Can it be repaired?
• I have a small gap between the barrel and the lock on my Southern Mountain Rifle. How concerned should I be?
• I used iron nitrate on the stock and now there's light surface rust on the metal parts. What happened?
• I'm trying to figure out how to use a flintlock in the rain. Not much fair weather hunting in the PNW. Any suggestions?
• Identifying a stainless steel touchhole liner by color
• If I wanted a lighter color, would a clear oil like linseed instead of the permalyn help in that regard?
• If one were to sand/burnish the stock after applying the heat gun, would it affect the lighter stained areas of the stock and increase the dark/light contrast?
• If you were looking for a higher gloss on the stock, would you keep applying the oil?
• In what order should I build, finish, and sand a rifle kit?
• In what order should the mainspring and frizzen spring be installed on a flintlock?
• Integral underlugs machined directly on the barrel
• Interest in Bucks County or Lehigh Valley kit styles
• Is a 1 in 48 twist barrel good for shooting conical bullets?
• Is a mainspring vise required for all locks for disassembly?
• Is a super high polish finish accurate for a historically styled rifle?
• Is a tow plate necessary on the Southern Mountain Rifle?
• Is ash a difficult wood to work with compared to other stock woods?
• Is bluing the barrels recommended
• Is browning an historically appropriate finish for a Kibler's rifle?
• Is browning or rust bluing period appropriate for a Woodsrunner barrel finish?
• Is carving a skill a beginner can try?
• Is carving required on a Kibler's rifle stock?
• Is it a problem if a stock blank shows some heartwood?
• Is it a problem if bluing gets inside the bore of the barrel during charcoal bluing?
• Is it a problem if the buttplate hangs over the wood slightly at the bottom of the stock?
• Is it dangerous to knap a flint while it's still installed in the lock?
• Is it dangerous to use a round ball in the 16 gauge Fowler instead of the 20 gauge?
• Is it going to be a hanging trigger? If yes, will the geometry be figured so it doesn’t have a really heavy pull?
• Is it good practice to smooth a carved background with sandpaper or files instead of a chisel?
• Is it necessary to stone double-set triggers for a smoother action?
• Is it necessary to take a flintlock completely apart before fitting the lock plate into the stock?
• Is it necessary to use a wood filler when staining curly maple with aqua fortis?
• Is it okay for the buttplate to extend slightly past the wood on a longrifle stock?
• Is it okay if my ramrod has a slight bow to it?
• Is it okay to dry fire a flintlock without the frizzen closed?
• Is it okay to use steel wool to clean rust off the face of a frizzen?
• Is it possible to add a brass patch box on my colonial kit that I ordered with a wooden patch box?
• Is Kibler's able to improve the speed of its flintlock locks?
• Is Kibler's finish historically accurate?
• Is Kibler's rifle kits a good option for someone who has never built a gun kit before?
• Is Kibler's wood kiln dried or air dried?
• Is sandpaper historically accurate for building a flintlock rifle?
• Is the barrel ruined if you drill through into the tube?
• Is the finishing process for a rifle stock an exact science?
• Is the Hawken kit harder to assemble than Kibler's other kits, like the Fowler or Woodsrunner?
• Is the lock included with the kit, or is it billed separately?
• Is the sanding process the same for Walnut stocks?
• Is the square flat edge at the bottom of the stock traditional or is this left for finishing?
• Is the Woodsrunner a good choice for a new builder?
• Is there a good way to learn engraving techniques today?
• Is there a period appropriate peep sight for a longrifle?
• Is there a reason you chose to go with a single trigger on this one a opposed to a double set trigger?
• Is there any historical precedent for a natural, blond finish, with just the catalyzed linseed oil (or tung oil) over the maple?
• Is there any possibility of a left handed kit in the future?
• Is there color added to iron nitrate?
• Is there color in permalyn?
• Jim has said a Brown Bess musket kit is uncertain
• Jim has said a condensed basic tool list is planned
• Jim has said a Fowler kit is planned
• Jim has said a Hawken kit may happen
• Jim has said a pistol kit is planned
• Jim has said an open house or appreciation day is being considered
• Jim has said future kits may closely copy original guns
• Jim has said hiring a dedicated gunsmith is under consideration
• Jim has said next kit direction leans toward a high-end trade gun
• Jim has said the trade gun kit timeline is six to nine months out
• Jim referenced a 50 caliber barrel example
• Jim's age when he got interested in building
• Jim's black eye was from shingles, not Katherine
• Jim's engineering background
• Kibler Late Ketland is smaller than Chambers Late Ketland
• Kibler lock inlets go beyond what originals had
• Kibler locks do not fit Chambers lock mortises
• Kibler's attends the CLA show
• Kibler's does not attend Dixon's Gunmakers Fair
• Kibler's does not do custom modifications to kits
• Kibler's iron nitrate product is depleted of acid
• Kibler's rifles calibers 40 and below vs above
• Kit development timeline
• Kit difficulty depends on builder patience, not experience
• Kits always include the lock area inletted
• Kits can be built on a kitchen table
• Laid English lock with double-throated cock option
• Late Ketland lock with waterproof pan timeline
• Linseed oil, hardware store grade
• Lock bolts pre-drilled and tapped
• Lock care - mainspring vise technique
• Lock care - never trip the lock at half cock
• Lock care - never trip the lock without a flint and a closed frizzen
• Lock care - remove the flint when working the lock by hand
• Lock care - remove the tumbler with a punch, never by prying
• Lock care - store the lock at rest
• Lock components not CNC machined
• Lock design goals: historical correctness and aesthetics
• Lock or trigger feels wrong, first steps
• Lock part interchangeability due to precision
• Locks made in-house
• Locks supplied in bead-blasted finish only
• Lye solution used to redden cherry wood
• Making a thin screwdriver for narrow lock screws
• May I suggest oak leaves and acorns as a carving motif?
• Meeting Katherine
• Method for slotting barrel underlugs by hand
• Methods to reduce ramrod diameter
• Might there be a relief carving available with the upcoming Fowler
• Modern manufacturing techniques used for historical recreations
• Mountain rifle barrel length is fixed at standard length
• Mountain rifle caliber limitations
• My lock's hammer or cock seems to be contacting the lock plate, leaving marks.
• My ramrod has a bow in it. Is that a problem?
• My sear broke. Do I need to replace the tumbler too?
• My stock finish oil has a solid skin on top. Is it ruined?
• My trigger was fitted properly before finishing but started binding after the finish was applied. What should I check?
• Neutralizing iron nitrate is not strictly necessary
• Neutralizing stray iron nitrate in the barrel channel
• Never trip the lock with the frizzen open
• New barrel roughness, chatter, and initial fouling
• New barrels have a continuous swamped curve shape
• New employee Marshall running the lathe
• New employee Mason
• New Green Mountain barrels come with touchhole liners installed
• No custom modifications to standard kits
• No replacement parts for Chambers locks used previously
• Older barrels without a visible liner hole are not defective
• On the Hawken kit, is the breech plug already installed and are the under lugs fit?
• Order volume increased during coronavirus period
• Patina solution demonstration video exists
• Pear wood as gunstock material
• Permalyn can be used with bone black carefully
• Permalyn Sealer
• Permalyn Sealer as a finish
• Permalyn Sealer is a thinner version of Permalyn finish
• Planned trade gun features a serpent side plate
• Planned trade gun has a three-stage octagon-to-round barrel
• Planned trade gun lock will use modified round-face design
• Planned trade gun will use thin, light barrels
• Planned trade gun wood options: English or black walnut
• Plans for at least one left-handed kit
• Positioning set triggers using the sear bar cross point
• Potassium dichromate speeds cherry oxidation
• Practicing engraving on scrap material
• Prior custom rifle building experience before the business
• Punch material and fit for tumbler removal
• Ramrod area in stock is tapered
• Ramrod bow is normal and correctable by bending
• Ramrod may not fit entry pipe or stock hole
• Ramrod supplier changed to reduce reject rate
• Ramrod tip taper matches original historical work
• Ramrods can withstand significant bending force
• Reason for delay on left-handed kits
• Reasons for bringing barrel work in-house
• Recommendation to study original rifles and carving books
• Recommended starter chisels
• Recommended tools - full builder checklist
• Recommended tools - Jim's guidance on quality and selection
• Removing the tumbler from the cock is a press fit
• Rescuing a stock that came out the wrong color after staining
• Scrapers before sandpaper
• Seal inlets after the first coat of finish
• Seconds or discounted colonial kits sometimes available
• Sharpening a scraper technique
• Sharpening stones, what to buy
• Shop is a production facility, not a retail storefront
• Should a first time builder put a nose cap on the Southern Mountain Rifle?
• Should a touch hole liner be filed flush by hand?
• Should carved relief backgrounds be perfectly flat?
• Should hardware be left on the stock while staining?
• Should I add a brass piece to the end of the patch box?
• Should I apply more than one coat of iron nitrate stain?
• Should I brown the lock when browning the barrel?
• Should I build and assemble the whole rifle before sanding or polishing?
• Should I carve a groove or channel right along the edge of a carving design?
• Should I clinch or stake the under lugs after installing them on the barrel?
• Should I disassemble my lock before applying a metal darkening product like Jax's?
• Should I disassemble the lock before applying browning or darkening solution?
• Should I draw file the barrel on my rifle kit?
• Should I draw file the part of the barrel that will be hidden inside the stock?
• Should I drill out the ramrod hole in the stock if the ramrod does not fit?
• Should I expect iron nitrate to produce an exact target color on my stock?
• Should I fully assemble my rifle before polishing or sanding it?
• Should I install the butt plate or the nose cap and standing breech first on a Hawken kit?
• Should I plan on tuning up a new Kibler's flintlock after I get it?
• Should I polish the buttplate before or after fitting it to the stock?
• Should I polish the metal parts before or after assembling my rifle kit?
• Should I sand a stock before or after the rifle is fully assembled?
• Should I sand or scrape a rifle stock?
• Should I shoot conicals in a Kibler barrel?
• Should I trim the ramrod flush with the end of the stock or leave it sticking out?
• Should I try to adjust the position of the standing breech on a Hawken build?
• Should I use water or alcohol to raise the grain on a stock?
• Should I use wax on the screws when installing the butt plate?
• Should iron nitrate stain be applied inside metal part inlets?
• Should one scrape before the carving? How do you scrape inside curves, post-carving?
• Should the barrel and ramrod holes need extra fitting when I install the barrel on the Woodsrunner kit?
• Should the breech plug threads be case hardened?
• Should the flint's bevel face up or down in the jaws?
• Should the inlets on a rifle stock be sealed with finish?
• Should the lock panels on a longrifle come to a sharp point?
• Should the pin slot near the muzzle end under lug be longer than the ones near the breech?
• Should the sight overhang the sides of the barrel?
• Should the wood behind the tang on a longrifle be flat or curved?
• Should you alternate bone black coats with plain finish coats?
• Should you carve a stock before or after sanding it?
• Should you remove the barrel from a Woodsrunner or Southern Mountain Rifle to clean it?
• Should you use oil or grease when reassembling a flintlock?
• Small hole between lock inlet and barrel channel is normal
• Small pits in cast brass are not defects to worry about
• SMR and Hawken Hardware
• Staining with iron nitrate (aqua fortis) and aniline dyes
• Stock blank thickness for milling from a log
• Stoning double-set triggers is not necessary
• Sunlight darkens cherry wood over time
• Sunlight speeds curing of Tried & True finish
• Switch to Green Mountain for barrel blanks
• T/C Hawken is not a reliable pattern for authenticity
• Tang and trigger plate holes pre-drilled and tapped
• The barrel keeps crawling forward when I tighten the tang screw.
• The fly is missing from my lock and the hammer won't drop past half-cock.
• The guard won't fit into the stock, it looks impossible.
• The Jax Black I received says 'for brass', did I get the wrong product?
• The key is loose in the barrel on my Hawken.
• The nose cap screw won't start, the threaded hole seems misaligned.
• The ramrod won't reach the bottom when in the under-barrel channel.
• The set trigger is unreliable, it sometimes engages, sometimes doesn't.
• The trigger won't move freely, it feels stiff or sticky.
• The tumbler broke when I was disassembling the lock.
• The underlugs on the barrel don't appear to be fitted. Do I need to file them?
• There is a gap or hole in the stock between the barrel channel and the lock inlet, is that a defect?
• There is a hole between the lock inlet and the barrel channel on my stock. Is that a defect?
• There is a hole or void in the stock near the lock area.
• Thinner Permalyn coats produce a nicer final look
• Timeline of flintlock rifle kits and components
• Tool quality guidance for chisels
• Touchhole installed and milled flat during machining
• Traditional engraving method using a graver
• Tried & True oil varnish composition
• Tried and True Varnish Oil
• Trigger plate and lock holes pre-drilled and tapped
• Tumbler shaft has a 2 degree taper
• Two basic operations when finishing a gunstock
• Two recommended finishes: Permalyn Sealer and Tried & True
• Underlugs not yet drilled at time of recording
• Walnut, cherry, and ash staining practices
• Was Kibler's designing a Hawken kit as of August 2024?
• Were flintlocks typically rusted, browned, or left bright during the 1700s?
• Were Kibler's parts always machined, or were they cast at one point?
• Were original Hawken lock parts case hardened?
• Were original Hawken maple stocks typically finished plain or stained dark?
• Were original longrifles with carving and engraving typically decorated by the customer at home?
• What about the blueing of the barrel?
• What abrasive stones work well for polishing small details like beads on brass hardware?
• What actually causes the curl or figure seen in maple?
• What advice do you have for first time rifle kit builders?
• What are chip cuts on carved gun stocks?
• What are quick ship rifles and how do they work?
• What are some tips for working with cherry wood on a rifle stock?
• What are the first chisels I should buy to start a longrifle build?
• What are the keys to getting browning to take well on a lock or barrel?
• What are the KR photo sets that Kibler's sells?
• What are the specs of the Fowler kit?
• What are the two basic steps to finishing a gunstock?
• What are the two basic types of carving used on a longrifle stock?
• What are the under lugs on a barrel and what are they for?
• What are your thoughts on bedding the Barrel/action to better stabilize expansion and contraction effects on wood?
• What backing should I use when sanding a rifle stock so I don't ruin the surface?
• What ball and patch should I use in a .58 caliber Colonial?
• What ball diameter should I use in a .40 caliber rifle?
• What ball size is recommended for a 50 caliber Woodsrunner?
• What barrel blank suppliers does Kibler's use?
• What barrel length and calibers are offered on the Hawken kit?
• What barrel length does the Woodsrunner kit have?
• What barrel length will be available for the fowler?
• What CAD software do you use in design and surface modelling?
• What caliber and barrel length does the Colonial kit come in?
• What caliber should I pick for hunting?
• What calibers does the Woodsrunner come in and what type of barrel does it have?
• What calibers does the Woodsrunner kit come in?
• What calibers is the Woodsrunner kit available in?
• What can I use to protect the metal-to-wood inlet surfaces and barrel channel on a rifle I plan to hunt with?
• What causes dark streaks sometimes seen in maple, and are they a problem?
• What CNC machines does Kibler's use and why does it use a range of different ones?
• What comes in the drill guide and tap kit that Kibler's includes with every kit?
• What common problems do older or lower quality flintlocks tend to have?
• What diameter pin stock is used for attaching the ramrod pipes?
• What do the under lugs do on a Southern Mountain Rifle kit?
• What do you do if the sights have a casting nub on the bottom?
• What do you use to apply iron nitrate?
• What do you use to cut pins off to get a clean cut and don't screw up the wood?
• What does a hooked breech allow on a Hawken rifle?
• What does it mean to relieve a carving?
• What does it mean when a scraper makes a different sound or leaves a whitish mark on the wood?
• What does twist rate mean for round ball accuracy?
• What era is Kibler's round faced English style flintlock based on?
• What finish brings out curl in maple the best?
• What finish creates an aged, 1700s-style look on a maple stock?
• What finish does Kibler's use after staining a stock with iron nitrate?
• What finish works best over bone black without smearing it?
• What finishes does Kibler's recommend for a gunstock?
• What gauges is the Kibler Fowler kit offered in, and how do they differ?
• What gives ash its unique bark pocket figure, and how is it typically stabilized?
• What glossy stock finishing oils work well besides specialty products?
• What got Jim Kibler interested in building longrifles?
• What grain filler would you recommend for a Fowler stock I want to finish to a gloss?
• What grit progression does Jim Kibler recommend for sanding a buttplate after filing?
• What grit progression is used when sanding a rifle stock before finishing?
• What grit progression should I use when sanding a barrel after draw filing?
• What happens chemically when iron nitrate is applied over tannic acid?
• What happens if a stock is not heated enough or heated too much after staining with iron nitrate?
• What historical period and style is the Kibler Fowler kit based on?
• What holds the breech end of the barrel in place in a colonial rifle kit?
• What holds the patch box lid closed on a colonial rifle kit?
• What is a barn gun
• What is a captured key on a Hawken rifle, and how does it work?
• What is a common mistake beginners make when using transfer color?
• What is a dowel rod used for when assembling a kit?
• What is a good finish choice for a rifle that will be used hunting in wet or harsh weather?
• What is a good maximum load for a .50 caliber Woodsrunner?
• What is a good method for attaching the nose cap securely to the stock?
• What is a good order of operations for installing the nose cap and barrel?
• What is a good way to check a stock's surface for defects before staining it?
• What is a good way to clean a Southern Mountain rifle?
• What is a good way to hold a buttplate while polishing it?
• What is a good way to remove a barrel from the stock without damaging it?
• What is a good way to use a pin punch without damaging the stock?
• What is a mallet used for when assembling a Kibler's kit?
• What is a parrot vise and how is it modified for gun building?
• What is a quick ship kit?
• What is a quick ship order?
• What is a sensible maximum charge for a 45 caliber rifle?
• What is a standing breech on a Hawken style rifle?
• What is a three stage barrel?
• What is a touch hole liner and what does it do?
• What is a touch hole liner made of and does the material matter?
• What is blister figure in maple, and is it common in all types of maple?
• What is bone black used for on a rifle stock?
• What is burnishing and why is it done on a rifle stock?
• What is charcoal bluing and how does it work?
• What is draw filing and why is it used on a rifle barrel instead of just sanding?
• What is grain raising and why is it important when finishing a stock?
• What is ingrown bark and how is it repaired on a stock?
• What is iron nitrate stain and why is it used on curly maple?
• What is iron nitrate stain made of?
• What is Jim Kibler's background before starting Kibler's Longrifles?
• What is Kibler's sealer finish like compared to Laurel Mountain Forge products?
• What is Kibler's working on for CNC relief carving?
• What is meant by double keys on a Hawken rifle?
• What is relief carving and how does it differ from just outlining a design?
• What is relief carving?
• What is scraping and how does it compare to sanding a stock?
• What is stump cut wood and why is it desirable for a rifle stock?
• What is temper bluing?
• What is the barn gun concept?
• What is the best way to bring out figure in maple stock wood?
• What is the best way to knap or sharpen a flint?
• What is the best way to learn carving designs for a longrifle?
• What is the best way to raise the grain before finishing?
• What is the best way to remove the barrel from a stock during assembly?
• What is the best way to remove the standing breech if it fits tightly?
• What is the bolster area of a flintlock and why does its fit matter?
• What is the Contemporary Long Rifle Association (CLA)?
• What is the correct way to remove the mainspring from a flintlock?
• What is the difference between a fowler and a trade gun?
• What is the difference between clean tool marks and torn grain when carving?
• What is the difference between quarter-sawn and slab-sawn curly maple figure?
• What is the difference between red maple and sugar maple for curl?
• What is the difference between red maple and sugar maple for stock wood?
• What is the difference between the Colonial and Woodsrunner kits for a first build?
• What is the drill guide bushing included with the kit used for?
• What is the easiest way to install the sear spring on a flintlock?
• What is the fastest way to build up a smoke damaged rifle after a house fire?
• What is the Fowler kit based on historically?
• What is the historical basis for the Brown Bess project's design?
• What is the included tap used for when assembling the kit?
• What is the key technique for applying Tried & True or Permalyn Sealer finish?
• What is the largest caliber available for the mountain rifle?
• What is the length of pull on the Woodsrunner?
• What is the minimum tool set needed to assemble a Kibler's kit?
• What is the most period-correct way to finish a cherry stock?
• What is the overall length of the Woodsrunner ?
• What is the parting line on a cast buttplate and why does it need attention?
• What is the process Kibler's uses to turn a maple log into a dried stock blank?
• What is the purpose of a touch hole liner?
• What is the purpose of the little tabs on the trigger guard?
• What is the purpose of the under rib on the Hawken kit?
• What is the rate of twist on the 36 and 45 cal. barrels?
• What is the single most significant thing I can do to make a Colonial rifle kit stand out?
• What is the Southern Mountain Rifle kit based on?
• What is the thumb catch on a patch box lid for?
• What is the tradeoff between using a coarse file and a fine file when polishing brass parts?
• What is the trick for lining up a pin hole in the trigger with the hole in the stock?
• What is the wood box on the side of a colonial longrifle used for?
• What is the Woodsrunner rifle based on?
• What is transfer color and how should it be used when fitting parts?
• What is transfer color and why is it used when fitting metal parts into a rifle stock?
• What is transfer color used for when fitting a barrel or parts into a stock?
• What is unique about the patch box cavity on the Woodsrunner?
• What is your opinion of tru oil as a finishing coat?
• What is your opinion on sanding versus scraping only in regards to the final appearance/finish?
• What kind of barrel does the Brown Bess musket use compared to an octagon rifle barrel?
• What kind of bluing is historically correct for a colonial period rifle?
• What kind of file does Kibler's recommend for draw filing a rifle barrel?
• What kind of file should be used to fit an under lug into its dovetail?
• What kind of file should I use to draw file a barrel?
• What kind of file works well on the flat facets of a cone or molding on the buttplate?
• What kind of lighting is best for doing detailed carving work?
• What kind of patch box does the Woodsrunner have?
• What kind of pin stock is included with the Colonial kit for pinning parts?
• What kind of punch should be used to knock the cock off the tumbler?
• What kind of scraper does Jim use?
• What kind of stock finish would have been historically used on maple rifles in the 1700s colonies?
• What kind of tap should be used to thread the holes for the lock bolts?
• What kind of tap works best for the lock bolt hole?
• What kind of vise does Jim use for gun work, and why does it work well?
• What kind of wood was traditionally used for flintlock and percussion rifle stocks?
• What kind of wood was used for the stock in your Shawshank woodshop video?
• What kinds of problems existed in the muzzleloading kit market before Kibler's started?
• What kinds of wood work well with iron nitrate stain?
• What lighting setup helps you spot defects while sanding a rifle stock?
• What lock comes on the Woodsrunner kit?
• What lock comes with the Woodsrunner kit and how is it made?
• What lock does Kibler's use as an example for fitting into a colonial rifle kit?
• What lock is used in the Southern Mountain Rifle kit?
• What lock will be used for the fowler?
• What lubrication should be used when reassembling a flintlock?
• What makes the Fowler's barrel difficult to manufacture?
• What makes the shape of Kibler's swamped barrels different from typical modern-made swamp barrels?
• What makes the Southern Mountain Rifle a bit more difficult to assemble than the Woodsrunner?
• What makes the Woodsrunner buttplate a difficult part to CNC machine?
• What material are the pins used to secure the barrel lugs made from, and how are they prepared?
• What metal casting methods does Kibler's use for detailed parts, and why not die casting?
• What metal finish is recommended for a hunting rifle?
• What methods can I use to sand a ramrod down so it slides through the pipes?
• What much is a woods runner in ash?
• What oil did you use in the Shawshank woodshop video?
• What oil finish is used after staining with iron nitrate?
• What Oil to use over iron nitrate
• What options are available on the Hawken kit besides caliber?
• What original guns inspired the design of the Fowler kit?
• What original rifle is the Woodsrunner kit based on?
• What parts come already installed on the Woodsrunner stock when it arrives?
• What parts does Kibler's make on the Mazak CNC machine?
• What patch material and thickness should I use?
• What period and style is the Colonial kit based on?
• What powder charge should I use? I've been shooting 30 grains and getting misfires.
• What power are Jim's optivisors?
• What recoil should I expect from a .45 black powder rifle?
• What sandpaper grits are recommended for finishing a rifle stock?
• What sandpaper grits should I use to sand a rifle stock?
• What screwdriver do I need for the narrow screw slots on a flintlock, like the one holding the hammer to the tumbler?
• What separates a low grade English trade gun from a high end English fowling piece?
• What should I be careful of when filing near a screw hole on a brass part?
• What should I do if a pin won't go into a ramrod pipe or similar hole?
• What should I do if a ramrod pipe pin will not go in?
• What should I do if my ram rod arrives a little bent or breaks during fitting?
• What should I do if my ram rod arrives with a bend in it?
• What should I do if the corner of my investment cast nose cap isn't fully filled out?
• What should I do if the keys on my Hawken hook breech system become loose over time?
• What should I do if the set triggers do not have enough free play against the sear?
• What should I do to the ends of pins before installing them?
• What should I keep in mind about the wood level around the trigger guard when finishing the stock?
• What should I keep in mind when driving pins so wood doesn't pop out on the other side?
• What should I look for in a good ramrod before fitting it?
• What should you do if the trigger guard does not quite line up with its inlets?
• What should you use to help buttplate screws go into their holes more easily?
• What size drill bit and pin does Kibler's use for pinning parts like ramrod pipes?
• What size file should I use when polishing brass hardware?
• What size flint does the SMR use?
• What size flint does the Woodsrunner use?
• What size hole should I drill to pin the ramrod tip on my Woodsrunner?
• What size threading is on the Hawken ram rod tip?
• What species of wood do you use for the ramrod?
• What stain and finish would you recommend for a first time builder?
• What stain does Kibler's recommend for curly maple?
• What stain is used to finish ash rifle stocks?
• What stain works well on ash rifle stocks?
• What style of carving does the carved Woodsrunner use?
• What style of rifle is Kibler's planning as its next new model?
• What technique should I use when filing a large flat surface like a buttplate?
• What time period and style is the Hawken kit based on?
• What time period does the new fowler most closely represent?
• What tool do you use to scrape a rifle stock, and how is it sharpened?
• What tool is used to remove the mainspring from a flintlock?
• What tools are needed to sand and scrape a rifle stock?
• What tools are used to remove the background when relief carving a longrifle stock?
• What tools are used to smooth the background of a relief carving?
• What tools can be used to outline a carving?
• What tools can I use to outline a carving design on a rifle stock?
• What tools do I need to assemble a Hawken rifle kit?
• What tools do I need to disassemble a lock, and what should I watch out for?
• What twist rate do the Hawken barrels use, and is it good for round ball?
• What twist rate should I expect on a barrel depending on which manufacturer supplies it?
• What type of rifling process does Kibler's use for its small caliber barrels?
• What type of stock and finish do you recommend for walnut?
• What vise does Jim use?
• What was the hardest part of the Hawken kit to develop?
• What weight is the trigger pull?
• What will the wood options be for the fowler?
• What wood choices are available for the Hawken kit?
• What wood did original Hawken rifles typically use, and how were they finished?
• What wood does Kibler's primarily use for maple stocks?
• What wood is recommended for the carved Woodsrunner?
• What wood is the Woodsrunner stock available in?
• What wood options are available for the Woodsrunner kit?
• What wood options are offered for the Hawken rifle kit?
• What would be a good starting black powder load for a Woods Runner in 54 caliber?
• When fitting a buttplate, do you always need to remove wood to close a gap?
• When heating the Iron Nitrate, how hot does the wood's surface need to be?
• When rubbing the stock down with the Scotch Bright pad, how does that affect relief carving? Is the raised carving degraded in any way?
• When should I install the barrel pins?
• When should I install the pins that hold the barrel keys captive?
• When should the barrel pins be trimmed to length during a build?
• When should the metal hardware be polished during a build?
• When should you apply bone black during the finishing process?
• Where can I buy the drill bit kit?
• Where can I find replacement parts for a Chambers lock that came with an older Kibler kit?
• Where can I purchase the spring compressors you showed?
• Where did you purchase your magnifiers?
• Where do Kibler's barrel blanks come from and who does the rifling?
• Where does the name Woodsrunner come from?
• Where on the rifle is the carving located on the carved Woodsrunner?
• Where should double set triggers be positioned relative to the sear during a build?
• Where should I check first if the lock bolster on my mountain rifle won't seat against the barrel?
• Where should I clamp the stock when fitting a trigger guard with thin lock panel moldings?
• Where should you darken a stock with bone black?
• Which barrel manufacturers does Kibler's use?
• Which end of the barrel tang should come out first when removing the barrel from the stock?
• Which Kibler's kit is the fully carved option available on?
• Which lock will the pistol kit use, and is it flat-faced or round-faced?
• Which parts of the Hawken kit are cast versus machined?
• Which stock finish should I use, Permalyn, Tried and True, or other?
• Which style the colonial or woods runner, would be the most similar to something a farmer or plantation owner would have had access to around the time of the Revolution? Mainly the Charlotte/Camden/PeeDee area of boarder region of the Carolinas.
• Who designed the carving pattern on the carved Woodsrunner?
• Who makes the barrels used in Kibler's kits?
• Why are Kibler's rifles sold as kits instead of fully assembled?
• Why are some export or trade grade fowler buttplates thicker at the toe?
• Why are the butt plate and trigger guard on the Southern Mountain Rifle made of steel instead of brass?
• Why are the lock panels on the Fowler kit made a certain way?
• Why are the pin holes through the under lugs elongated into slots instead of left as round holes?
• Why are the pins on parts like the side plate left long when the kit ships?
• Why are the screw holes in the nose cap sometimes not perfectly aligned?
• Why are the under lug pin holes sometimes slotted rather than round?
• Why are the underlugs on the barrel slotted?
• Why are the underlugs on the Woodsrunner barrel slotted?
• Why are you sending them partially installed already?
• Why can fitting a fowler buttplate be difficult for the average builder?
• Why can't I just install the trigger directly into the stock by itself?
• Why did Jim Kibler make the Hawken kit's buttplate wider than on many original Hawken rifles?
• Why did Kibler's choose to have a custom screw maker produce the wood screws for the toe plate and patch box?
• Why did Kibler's design their own rifling cutter instead of buying one?
• Why did Kibler's invest in a metalworking CNC machine for parts?
• Why did Kibler's move away from barrels with integral under lugs?
• Why did Kibler's move from cast nose caps and butt plates to machined ones on the Woodsrunner?
• Why did Kibler's start buying and cutting its own curly maple logs instead of only buying pre-cut lumber?
• Why did Kibler's switch from cast buttplates to machined buttplates on the Woodsrunner?
• Why did Kibler's switch from Rice barrels to Green Mountain barrel blanks?
• Why did Kibler's use the Hawken name for its mountain rifle kit if it isn't a direct copy of any single original Hawken?
• Why do fowling pieces have single triggers instead of double triggers?
• Why do investment cast trigger guards vary in length and fit?
• Why do longrifle barrels have a swamped shape instead of being a constant diameter?
• Why do longrifle barrels have a swamped, tapered shape instead of being a constant diameter?
• Why do many modern reproduction English guns have oversized forestocks?
• Why do some Kibler barrels get rifled in house instead of by the barrel maker?
• Why do some Kibler's kits have more parts pre-fitted than others?
• Why do some maple trees curl and others don't?
• Why do some parts, like the butt plate and trigger guard, come pre-installed on the Woodsrunner stock?
• Why do the dark curl stripes in maple absorb more stain and oil than the rest of the wood?
• Why do the edges of a lock plate need filing before it will fit into the mortise?
• Why do the forward ramrod pipes need to be marked before removing them?
• Why do the tabs on the SMR ramrod pipes sometimes need to be filed down?
• Why do the under lugs sometimes need to be trimmed down after they are installed on the barrel?
• Why do you heat the wood after applying iron nitrate stain?
• Why do you only make for muzzle loaders? Is this process precise enough to make barrels for centre-fires or rim-fires?
• Why do you sand the brass?
• Why do you scribe a line around the patch box lid before finishing the stock?
• Why does a rifle stock need to have its grain raised before finishing?
• Why does a sharp chisel matter so much when trimming wood to fit the butt plate?
• Why does a stock need to be heated after applying iron nitrate?
• Why does cast brass sometimes have pits in it?
• Why does curly ash soak up more stain and oil than plainer ash?
• Why does curly maple darken unevenly when stained with tannic acid?
• Why does developing a new rifle kit take so long?
• Why does iron nitrate stain need to be heated after it is applied?
• Why does Kibler's cast a preform for the buttplate instead of bending brass bar stock?
• Why does Kibler's CNC-machined lock fit so well into the Colonial rifle kit's stock inlet?
• Why does Kibler's cut stock blanks before kiln drying instead of drying whole planks?
• Why does Kibler's cut stock blanks small instead of using large oversized blanks?
• Why does Kibler's let stock blanks sit around before using them?
• Why does Kibler's machine the lock plate even though it is a difficult part to machine?
• Why does Kibler's not recommend shooting round ball out of the 16 gauge fowler?
• Why does Kibler's ship firearms to an FFL in New York and New Jersey instead of direct to the customer?
• Why does Kibler's use a CNC process to machine gun stocks instead of duplicators?
• Why does Kibler's use hickory for the ram rod?
• Why does most of the wood Kibler's buys arrive green rather than pre-dried?
• Why does my stock have a small mineral streak or blemish even though it's graded as a good stock?
• Why does the barrel have milling marks when I receive my kit?
• Why does the box lid on a rifle sometimes not match the color of the rest of the stock?
• Why does the butt plate on the Southern Mountain Rifle kit have counterbored screw holes instead of just countersunk hol
• Why does the Hawken kit differ visually from many original Hawken rifles?
• Why does the Hawken kit's barrel length stay in the lower 30 inch range instead of longer?
• Why does the metal on my rifle sometimes sit proud of the wood in winter after fitting perfectly in summer?
• Why does the ramrod get a small hollow cut into its tip?
• Why does the ramrod supplied with a kit sometimes not fit the entry pipe hole?
• Why does the set trigger on my Southern Mountain Rifle only fall to half cock instead of firing?
• Why does the Southern Mountain Rifle use iron or steel hardware instead of brass?
• Why does the Southern Mountain Rifle use steel hardware instead of brass?
• Why does the stock still look dull right after heating the iron nitrate stain?
• Why does the trigger guard need filing before it fits into the stock?
• Why does the trigger guard sometimes need extra material trimmed at the back before it fits the inlet?
• Why does the trigger sometimes need material removed before it fits the lock?
• Why does the wood humidity level matter when Kibler's machines the stocks?
• Why does the wood sit slightly proud of the metal parts on a Hawken kit before finishing?
• Why does the wood sometimes sit a little above the metal parts on a Colonial kit before finishing?
• Why does the Woodsrunner rifle look different from a typical longrifle?
• Why does the Woodsrunner's patch box have a concave cavity instead of a rectangular one?
• Why does wood closer to the center of the tree look darker?
• Why doesn't Kibler's make its own rifled or smoothbore barrel bores in house?
• Why doesn't Kibler's offer a left-handed kit?
• Why doesn't Kibler's offer customization of the carving pattern on a kit?
• Why doesn't Kibler's offer multiple barrel length options on its rifles?
• Why doesn't Kibler's offer trigger guards pre-fit with no fitting required at all?
• Why doesn't Kibler's use a form or press to straighten buttplate castings instead of doing it by hand?
• Why doesn't my ramrod fit into the ramrod pipes or the hole in the stock?
• Why doesn't my stock's curl figure look impressive right out of the box?
• Why doesn't the ramrod fit right out of the box?
• Why have the ramrod tip going into the rifle?
• Why is a bark inclusion or small crack in a maple stock blank usually not a big concern?
• Why is a brass nose cap installed at the end of the Woodsrunner stock?
• Why is a drill bit sized just to the hole used to squeeze barrel pin holes through the stock?
• Why is CNC relief carving on a rifle stock challenging?
• Why is grain direction so important when carving a stock?
• Why is it better to have a rifle shoot a little low rather than a little high?
• Why is it better to work large carving areas down together rather than finishing one section completely before moving on
• Why is it important that the lock bolster contacts the barrel with no gap?
• Why is it important to use a screwdriver that fits the screw slot exactly on a lock?
• Why is it normal for a new ram rod to need fitting to the stock?
• Why is lighting important when sanding a rifle stock?
• Why is lighting so important when working on a rifle stock?
• Why is quarter-sawn curly maple harder to carve than other grain orientations?
• Why is relief carving difficult to program for CNC machining?
• Why is scraping preferred over sandpaper for cleaning up carving backgrounds?
• Why is the breech area of the barrel channel rounded when a stock first comes off the CNC machine?
• Why is the entry pipe already installed on the Woodsrunner kit?
• Why is the entry pipe on the Colonial kit hard to inlet on other rifles but not on Kibler's kits?
• Why is the finish on the foot of the tumbler so important?
• Why is the Fowler kit offered in American black walnut instead of English walnut?
• Why is the front screw hole for the buttplate offset slightly from the hole in the stock?
• Why is the front sight usually tighter to fit than the rear sight?
• Why is the Hawken kit a half stock instead of a full stock?
• Why is the nosecap left on and other parts taken off?
• Why is the tapped screw hole in the nose cap offset from the hole in the stock?
• Why is the wood inside a Kibler buttplate fit closely instead of relying on the screw for alignment?
• Why is the wood left bare under the lock plate & barrel?
• Why might a lock plate be a little tight or loose in its inlet?
• Why not use a Dremel tool?
• Why should chisels and other sharp tools not be left lying on the workbench?
• Why should I be careful handling the stock before the butt plate is fitted?
• Why should the holes for the lock bolts be drilled through the stock rather than off of it?
• Why should the patch box lid fit with a slight bit of play instead of a perfectly tight fit?
• Why should there be a small gap on either side of the under lugs in the barrel channel?
• Why should you always file the end of a cut pin before installing it?
• Why should you avoid rounding over the corners of a barrel flat while draw filing?
• Why shouldn't I dry fire a percussion Hawken rifle without something on the nipple?
• Why shouldn't I just drill a pin hole through the metal part freehand using the hole already in the wood?
• Why shouldn't I polish the metal parts before assembling the rifle?
• Why shouldn't you stain the inlets on a rifle stock?
• Why shouldn't you use hardware store linseed oil as a stock finish?
• Why use a brass hammer instead of a steel hammer when building a rifle kit?
• Why were English fowling pieces so common in colonial America?
• Why won't the lock bolt thread into the lock on my kit?
• Why won't the ramrod fit through the pipes on my kit right out of the box?
• Why would I want to remove the barrel on my Hawken rifle?
• Why would you use tannic acid along with iron nitrate on curly maple?
• Will a larger caliber barrel drop into an existing 50 caliber WoodsRunner stock?
• Will a machined Woodsrunner buttplate require fitting to the stock?
• Will I still need to work on the trigger guard after Kibler's pre-fits it to my stock?
• Will Kibler's make left handed rifles?
• Will other Kibler's kits get carving options in the future?
• Will the barrel need fitting to drop into the stock?
• Will the barrel on the Hawken kit be able to be shortened?
• Will the carving be exactly the same on every carved Woodsrunner?
• Will the Hawken be offered in a flintlock configuration?
• Will the lock need to be fitted into the stock inlet?
• Will there be a cross pin to hold the buttplate tang on the fowler?
• Will you be able to fire steel shot from the fowler for waterfowl hunting?
• With the trigger pin in wood instead of metal, is there any chance of wallowing out the pin hole with continues use? Can you use a trigger that is connected to the trigger plate?
• Wood selection is a key part of the business
• Woodsrunner, historical influence
• Would Kibler's ever offer a mountain rifle with a shorter barrel than the standard length?
• Would there be any problems with a kit being stored for a bit until I get to it?
• Wouldn't it be easier for you to drill the partsin house versus spending money on extra parts?
• You showed how it looks with stain over the iron nitrate. Would nitrate over the stain come out any different?