Flint Kit Recommendations

[Maj Dad]

I am looking for an entry level flint kit to learn on without too much expense, and about the only thing I have found is one at Dixie ( http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_162_193&products_id=14314 ). I have several ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War (on our side ) and I have been wanting to get a rifle like they could have used. They were from VA, NC & Watauga, so I think a VA pattern would be nice, but I haven't even seen a completed rifle advertised in several months. I know a PA or KY would be fine, but the one VA pattern I saw on Track of the Wolf just lit my fire. But I digress: the kit on Dixie's site is about $340, in my range, but I would like any input you guys might have. I don't want to blow $340 on a sow's ear, and I am not a complete amateur or klutz, so if necessary, I could start with a better & more expensive kit. I just hate to jeopardize that money if the starter I linked would be worth the effort. I have a tendency to try to make silk purses, but I want to do that on a real purse...
Thanks for your interest,
George J.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I'm not aware of any half-stock rifles being carried by either Patriots or Tories during that family feud.

As a starter kit to learn how to inlet locks, buttplates, tang and barrel, I'm sure the kit will serve its purpose of getting you on the road of gunstocking (kit building).

After you develop the skills and if you still have the interest and desire and want a very good kit that when finished will be close to what your ancestors carried (if they were riflemen), look up Jim Chambers. Chamber kits are among the best in the industry. Be mindful that most folks carried smoothbore muskets and in the American Army, riflemen (as a unit) were on a provisional basis (detached from their parent unit). Other riflemen were militia who were serving on short term basis.

 

[Maj Dad]

Thanks for the reply & suggestions, Gary. I think I will go ahead & get it & use it as a learning tool rather than jump off the deep end without testing the water. As for the rifle/smoothbores, a lot of my kin were indeed in the militia (Col Alexander McAllister of the Cumberland County, NC, militia,, William Lowe in the Surrey County, NC, militia, and Nicholas Hale of Washington County, NC (Wataugan/Overmountain) militia to name a few!), so I think I will go with a rifle. One of my daughters is a genealogist and has tracked our kin all over the south (some native Americans in there, too), and back to Scotland and Germany - very impressive!
Thanks for the reply, and warmest regards,
George Jacoby

 

[mulefour]

If you are close to Charleston, SC you could go to one of the Charles Town Longrifles club shoots for some one on one help.

http://charlestownelongrifles.blogspot.com/

 

[Maj Dad]

Mule, I'm in Sumter, and I will most definitely check out the club - that's where the knowledge I need is on display. Thank you very much!
Regards,
George J.

 

[mykeal]

That Dixie rifle is a plains style, and as Gary said it's wrong for the period and location you are interested in. Also, as a kit it's really just 'bolt it together, paint and let dry'. Not much to be learned by hands on working with that. Chambers kits are indeed top drawer, but on the other hand they are not for novices.

I suggest a kit by Sitting Fox; he's willing to tailor the kit to your level of comfort - inletting, breech plug installation, dovetailing, etc. A couple of phone calls might be just what you need. And he's not the only one who will do that; give Chuck Dixon a call at Dixon's Muzzleloading Shop in Pennsylvania and talk with him about what you want. He may have some suggestions about other sources.

 

[ElvinWarrior]

Maj Dad,

The Possible Shop (TPS), carries a number of different kits, from various good quality, and modestly priced, manufacturers. Names like Traditions, Lyman, et-cetera. Most kits are offered in either flint or percussion, and most kits offer more than one barrel style, i.e; caliber, smooth, et-cetera. The only drawback there, is, most of the kits are post revolutionary era, a little more updated than what I think your looking for, but they do have a couple, and, the price is right. They stock, pistols, carbines, rifles, and muskets, both finished and in kits.

http://possibleshop.com/rifle-kit.html

http://possibleshop.com/pistol-kit.html

A source, that is much closer to what you are looking for, mostly revolutionary, and BEFORE, era reproductions, that stock VERY ACCURATE, AUTHENTIC reproductions, in muskets and pistols, with a few rifles, but mostly smooth bores, and nearly all flinters, is an outfit called Middlesex Village Trading Company. Now, alot of people here will tell you to stay away from them, that their guns are made in sweat shops in India, and that they seriously do not trust the quality of the barrel steels used... Well, allow me to assure you, their guns are not purchased from stock, they specify the design to the makers, the guns are made, just for them, to quality standards. The proprietor of the shop, goes through, each and every single gun recieved, tuning them, testing them, adjusting them, when delivered, not only are they SAFE, but they function PERFECTLY, the geometry, the timing, the tempering, is PERFECT. Besides, all being hand made, in my oppinion, makes them VERY AUTHENTIC, they are actually made, in the same ways, as the originals were, and because of this, there are minor variations from gun to gun, just like the originals. As far as I am concerned, they are as close to the real thing as you can get without buying a rare and expensive antique. Their pistols range in price from about $325 to a high end of about $425, their muskets range in price from about $525 to about $750. But these are fully assembled, fucntioning, ready to go guns, they don't offer kits. Many are military models, with optional bayonette and scabbards available.

http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/index.shtml

There are some famous people out there, and they do make excellant products, but I am not an expert in those guys, some of the other people here can better guide you in the custom gun makers and custom gun smiths functioning here in America today. Not all are exceedingly expensive in price, some, actually are competitive with mass manufactured gun prices, surprisingly enough.

Sincerely,

ElvinWarrior... aka... David, "EW"

 

[Busyhands94]

i got that frontier rifle kit and built it. it took about a day, it shoots well. i highly recommend it. with 80 grains it feels like you are shooting a real man's gun especially with a Minnie ball. it's accurate too, it feels like i can shoot the sweat off a gnat's brow with it at 100 paces. and as a bonus it will ignite Jim Shockey's gold powder sub without much of a problem. it is a great rifle for the money, and is very sturdy. she has a little heft, but i think that helps with staying on target. the recoil is similar to a .410 shotgun due to the weight, and even my kid brother or even my mother can handle it, and they enjoy shooting it too.

~Levi

 

[hja4941]

Maj Dad

I think mykeal gave you great advise. I would only add that if you are handy with tools, and are patient, a higher end kit such as Chambers is very doable.

At any rate congratulations on your first step towards addiction. This will only be the first of many.

 

[arcticap]

Consider contacting Pecatonia River Long Rifle Supply.
They offer some 98% inletted stocks for the quality components that they sell. And they have a wide variety of stock selections to chose from.
Click on some of the stock models in the right column of the linked page to see which ones are offered with inletting.

http://www.longrifles-pr.com/stockscomponents.shtml

http://www.longrifles-pr.com/

Example:

Transitional Kentucky (98% inletted):

http://www.longrifles-pr.com/transkentucky.shtml

 

[mykeal]

Yes, +1 for both Pecatonica River and The Possible Shop, in addition to Sitting Fox, etc.

 

[goon]

I can't comment on the outfits offering kits except to say that one from Jim Chambers is on my wishlist as one of my next purchases.

What I can tell you is that I bought my first flintlock wanting to just get something I could afford to learn how they work. I have mixed feelings on this. On one side, I did learn about them and I'm glad I have an informed opinion now. On the other, I sold both of the non-historically accurate ones I have had (a Lyman and a T/C) even though they were good guns. I sold the Pedersoli Bess because it wasn't right for my period.
In any case, just consider the possibility that you might want to sell it later on to buy something period accurate for Revolutionary War.

Also, watch on www.frontierfolk.net and on the Traditional Muzzleloading Forum for used guns for sale that might fit what you want. You won't get to build one that way (although you might find a kit) but you could save a lot and get a very nice HC/PC gun.

 

[Maj Dad]

I cannot thank you all enough for the wealth of information! The options I now have make it look like I can get a decent shooter now, then not far down the road a Chambers kit and spend a year or two building it I'm a tinkerer and am handy with tools, so I know that I can accomplish the task with time, patience and guidance from guys like you and the club members. Jim Chambers has the exact rifle I want in his Mark Silver -Virginia Rifle ( http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles04.htm ). I am a hair's breadth from complete retirement and that rifle will be my retirement present, even if I have to cut a deal on some of my safe occupants with the sell-devil...
Thanks again, and best regards to all of you!
George Jacoby