Building a kit w/ NO experience

[Gouda Feta]

Was wondering what all I would need to build a Tennessee Poor Boy Kit from T.V.M (https://www.tennesseevalleymanufacturing.com/kits/tennessee-poor-boy-kit/). I've never built a rifle before and have only done minor jobs to my lever actions. What sort of tools would I need for a job like this? I figured chisels but is there a decent chisel kit that will have all I need to finish inletting the stock?

It saddens me to say this but despite having bought my first muzzleloader 3 months ago (pedersoli frontier .54), I know relatively little about their history and all the different options I keep seeing such as different lock types, trigger guard types, stock profile types, and etc. Is there any reading material that one would consider essential for someone getting into muzzleloaders? What resources should I go through before making the plunge, purchasing a kit, and building this rifle?

On a related note, I HIGHLY recommend watching the 1969 documentary "Gunsmith of Colonial Williamsburg". Its an amazing documentary about building a muzzleloader from start to finish with colonial tools and techniques, Its one of my favorite videos of all time. Video recording technology was made for productions like this. The entire thing is on youtube.

 

[COTTON]

I am in the same situation as you. I work on a lot of old kit guns mainly repair and refinish. Join MUZZLELOADINGFORUM and there is a wealth of info on this site. I am preparing to order a Kibler Southern Mountain Rifle just deciding on type of wood for stock. Jim Kibler has videos that will clarify assembly worth the watch. Hope this helps.

 

[Chdamn]

@Tim might be able to help. I seem to remember him being really into BP.

 

[Tim]

It’s more fair to say I am the beneficiary of my dad’s muzzleloader obsession. He’s the builder.

Check out:

AmericanLongRifles Forums - Index

AmericanLongRifles Forums - Index

americanlongrifles.org

 

[Catfish]

I just joined NMLRA and got a flyer for this series of gunsmithing classes:

NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar — The NMLRA

www.nmlra.org

Wish I could go but I have a day job to attend to. Maybe someday...

 

[Gouda Feta]

I am in the same situation as you. I work on a lot of old kit guns mainly repair and refinish. Join MUZZLELOADINGFORUM and there is a wealth of info on this site. I am preparing to order a Kibler Southern Mountain Rifle just deciding on type of wood for stock. Jim Kibler has videos that will clarify assembly worth the watch. Hope this helps.

Damn those seems great, didn't even know about them. Thats also the one I'll get when I make the plunge. the southern mountain rifle in .36. Thanks for that

It’s more fair to say I am the beneficiary of my dad’s muzzleloader obsession. He’s the builder.

Check out:

AmericanLongRifles Forums - Index

AmericanLongRifles Forums - Index

americanlongrifles.org

signed up and perusing through it now, thanks.

I just joined NMLRA and got a flyer for this series of gunsmithing classes:

NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar — The NMLRA

www.nmlra.org

Wish I could go but I have a day job to attend to. Maybe someday...

I saw that too, sign up deadline in february but class is in june I believe. Its hard to plan like that at my job.

 

[COTTON]

Kiblers videos on How To are well worth the time. I use a lot of his techniques on more than just muzzleloaders.

 

[Dave951]

I've shot and handled Kiblers and they are the best kits out there.

As for the technique to assembling kits, there are kits and there are Kiblers. As far as finishing, you can get into the weeds and do it the "old way", you can brown, you can blue, etc but at the end of the day, it's what you want from the building experience and the finished product. A cheap kit is exactly that. Cheap components present their own challenges. I have a New/Old stock Cabellas flintlock Hawken that I finished. For my purposes, I wanted a shooter so the metal is all browned (authentic finish), the brass is muted with vinegar fuming, but the wood on the stock was stained with a conventional oil stain and finished with 3 coats of wipe on satin poly. It shoots great but does it look as good as a well done Kibler? Not in a million years.

 

[Dave951]

This is a group I shot with a Kibler Colonial in 54cal. Yeah, they will shoot if you can.

 

[Gouda Feta]

I just joined NMLRA and got a flyer for this series of gunsmithing classes:

NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar — The NMLRA

www.nmlra.org

Wish I could go but I have a day job to attend to. Maybe someday...

It is $780 for the 6 day class. This DOES NOT include the kibler southern rifle kit. The Kibler SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN RIFLE KIT is another $1075 ($875 + $200 for the price of the lock). The total for JUST the class is $1855. This isn't including the transportation, food, or lodging cost. That is no small amount I tell ya. Is it really worth it for just a 6 day class?

 

[Windini]

It is $780 for the 6 day class. This DOES NOT include the kibler southern rifle kit. The Kibler SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN RIFLE KIT is another $1075 ($875 + $200 for the price of the lock). The total for JUST the class is $1855. This isn't including the transportation, food, or lodging cost. That is no small amount I tell ya. Is it really worth it for just a 6 day class?

Probably.

Not that I can afford that + loss of 1 week's pay (at this time), but I'd be willing to bet that, in the long run, you'd get your money's worth. It's been my experience that targeted, guided instruction & demonstration by people who really know their stuff gets you up & running at light speed compared to DIY'ing it for years. You should also factor in the contacts with instructors and other students whom you could continue to hit up for advice long after the last session.

I'll still hack away at my DIY projects! But I'd love to get to a class like this one day...

 

[Dave951]

Not to rain on the NMLRA's party but you don't "need" that class. What you will get in the class-

Access to some tools to make the job easier that you might not have

Access to an instructor for questions.

Access to advice for an "authentic" finish

Time spent making new friends

You can assemble a Kibler at home with modest tools. Jim has a series of videos on Utoob on how to do it. It ain't rocket science. Where the artistry comes in is customization, carving, engraving etc. Of you want a great quality shooter, that stuff doesn't factor into accuracy anyway as Jim's barrels and locks are among the best available.

The real issue is what do you want it of it. Do you want a high quality shooter that you assembled or a work of art that you collaborated with some others of like mind. Either way, you can't go wrong with a Kibler kit

 

[cold1]

Inleting seems to be the hard part. I haven't built a BP but have done a few scratch built center fires. I hate inletting.

My suggestion would be to get the kit, but buy a cheap stock blank to practice your intelling on first. From what I see of the kit, the all the metal is 90% done for you. It looks like you will need to cut dovetails for the tenons and sights and figure out how to mount the thimbles. To me those are easier than inletting a stock. then there is blueing/browning which to me is relatively easier than making the stock.

There are many folks on this website that have many different skills and are willing to share that with you. I say go for it and try to build the kit. There is nothing like shooting something that you built. Also remember this isn't a race, my first build took 3 years to complete. I had to learn some skills and I made a lot of mistakes.