I've been making muzzleloaders for longer than I like to think about. These kits are perfect and amazing. I've noticed lately that people probably aren't taught basic skills in grade school and high school. I think it is great that Jim has taken the time to do a lot of excellent "how to" videos.
Glad you like them! I know that hand skills are not really taught anymore and we are trying to help customers who maybe don't have a ton of experience still have a great looking and functioning gun. We will keep the videos coming as we realize how important they are. Thanks for the comment
Agree about the vids. What a wonderful asset to have during assembly! I sat my laptop up on my bench and followed each video step-by-step. Particularly helpful when finishing. 10 times better than any manual.
You cannot get any better than Jim's kits. If you think you can slap yourself in the face and wake up. I have built several beautiful rifles that will last for generations. Thank you Jim and staff.
Fowler tease got me excited. Jim shouldn't have to make a video like this but some people's kids make it necessary. The man and his employees know what they're doing people. Go look at some of his custom work, he's a Professional.
Well I need to follow up. I ordered a Woodsrunner during the summer sale ships tomorrow. I got my kit in four days. it arrived on Saturday and I had it all dry fit within about two hours of very careful examination and assembly. There was near zero fitting needed on my stock. The barrel was snug in the channel but it was yet to be draw filed. After filling it fit like a glove. The amazing thing was how perfect the tang and barrel seat is. I blackened all the parts with a kerosene lamp and everything marked off fully seated like the wood grew around the barrel. Here it is Monday And my metal is prepped and I'm final sanding the stock. I'm ready to blue my metal bits and when my tannic acid shows up with the aqua fortis I'll be good to go. I think I'll be able to go do load work up end of June. I've never seen a "prefit" stock that fits as well as your stock nor one that almost needs no sanding. I can tell there was a huge investment of time and fixturing to make a kit as close to perfect as possible. I think I'm going to order a SMR next. Unless you decide to build a true Hawken.
It’s a kit. You are going to have to do some work. Your videos made assembling this a piece of cake. Absolutely love it. Communication with Bree was great. Was on top of everything and was a pleasure to deal with.
I almost never comment on any platform, but I am going to now. It's time for everyone out there to realize what a gift we have all been given through Jim's brilliant work producing these kits. I knew of Jim's work as a custom builder long before the first kit was realized. His style of building was and is my favorite. Precise perfection with no artificial aging. What he is accomplishing now with these kits is monumental. He could have stopped with the SMR, and rested on the proverbial laurels. Now two more kits,another coming. He does everything but grow the trees for the stock wood. Just look at the locks from the inside. They are a work of art. Rifling a barrel on a CNC turning center is the very definition of innovation. If you have not worked in these disciplines it is understandably difficult to realize just what is required to produce this level of work. Both quality and quantity. The video title is perfect. Trust them. If you are having problems,look to yourself.
I put a cva kit together back in 1980. There was no way you could get the barrel to fit without 3/16 gap. That was fudging the lock, end cap, breach tang. Moma me,ya. Everything had to be fit, shortened, lengthened, I can't wait to get one of these kits. A few friends have multiple masterpieces from Jim. I'm saving my nickels & dimes. I will get one!!!!!
I’ve never read or heard one complaint or negative comment about y’all. Everyone I’ve seen or read are good and how good the quality of your products are. So I would say, keep on keeping on 👍🏻
Unboxed my woodsrunner on a Thursday and was shooting on Sunday!! By far the nicest and historically accurate rifle kit on the market. Great company and employees!!
He does make a fine well engineered kit; Iove mine. But, why not take your time and not rush - haste breeds errors. There is no trophy for the "Quickest Slapped Together" category.
I have nothing but good to say about these people. They make GREAT stuff. They are a cut above on customer service too. Bree knows what's going on. You can tell that she has spent time in the shop and is not just a voice on the phone. They know what they are doing and they do it well. ASK FIRST, and you will have no problems.
I ordered A 45 caliber Southern mountain rifle kit. I hope the walnut stock has a lot of character. I ordered it on March the 18th 2024 cant wait to get it I love watching all your videos.They're awesome Thank you.
I investigate before I invest ... your videos and clear attention to detail are exactly why I chose to purchase from you, and utilize those who do, for my education in constructing quality muzzleloaders. I wish all businesses were are personally attached, and vertically integrated as yours. Thank you - Jim H. / Oak Harbor, OH
Your products are top-notch! I made your SMR in Cherry. I had a few issues, but those were due to my own errors, not yours. I was able to adjust my methods and prevent further mistakes. The mistakes I made were easy to fix. After sanding the ramrod, it fit just fine. If you watch the construction videos, the kit is quite easy to assemble and finish. My SMR turned out to be a beautiful gun. I love the cherry wood. I used only TruOil to finish the stock so that the wood would turn a deeper color over time through sunlight exposure. The staff at Kimbler are all very friendly, quick to answer questions, and have high-quality customer service. I would never hesitate to recommend Kimbler kits and products.
Wow! I got a colonial in 58 cal. And a woodsrunner in 54cal, and I'm saving for a woodsrunner ingraved. Now I got to save for a fowler. You got to love kiblers kits 🤠
Hi Jim, seems a shame that you needed to do a vid like this. You standards are second to none in my book! And your personal skills are so complete that I am sure you don't have people around that can't match those skills. Great work sir and keep the learning skills coming please. Cheers Jim. 👍🍻
A fowler in the first quarter of next year......Now I wont be able to sleep till then!!!! Lol. Thanks for a great product! Taking my Kibler SMR to the hardwoods in the morning for our muzzleloader opener. Blessings!!
I’ve put together a Woodsrunner and have a SMR waiting to get started on. My experience with the company, as for as product and customer service, has been outstanding!👍🏻
I started working on my colonial 2 days ago. It is an awesome kit! Of course there was a little fitting, but a couple sharp chisels and flies is all I needed. The best part was when I messed up a patch box cover, I could just call for another one. Thanks for all you do , great company!
Couldn’t be happier with the product you sold me! 40 years as a mold maker and I must say your kits require very little hand fitting. I am waiting on your Hawken rifle kit to development.
Thanks! A couple years down the road we should have the Hawken complete. There is a lot of research we want to do to get it right. We are glad you are happy
@@kiblerjim well, I guess until you get your Hawken rifle developed. I’ll have to be happy with my Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken rifle.. thanks again for producing and standing behind a great product!
Thanks! I know I (Katherine) looked like I was drunk filming when I was showing the fowler silhouette but I was actually trying to give everyone a glimpse lol.
I recently purchased a Colonial kit from Kibler. There has been minor inletting needed but nothing to complain about. It is a kit after all. Jims video's show everything we may run into and his artistic ability is inspiring. The post service where I live is very unreliable and these folks went out of their way to ship the kit in a more secure way. Thank you guys for putting out one fantastic product. I'll try to do my part before showing it off at the range.
Good video, personally I think you have a lot of people like me who are first time kit builders and don’t know how to ask the right questions I know if I had to pay you by the hour for all the help you have given me this rifle would cost a heck of a lot more than I paid for it. You’ll always have people complain about any little thing. Like I said first time buyers are unlikely to know anything at all about the process and may come across as rude. But really we’re just beginners and are a pain in the ass! Keep up the good work. No one is doing it better than you folks. And Bree is an excellent employee in my opinion.
Thank you for the comment--we are happy to have the first timers and want to help them have success. We know it is on us to spread the information and teach better with better instructions and we are hoping to be able to do more of that as time goes on. These videos are part of that process. Thanks so much for the support.
Jim, I don't own one of your guns yet but all the video's and forums I'm on have nothing but good things to say about you and your products. Just me looking at the video's I can tell your products are top notch and of high quality I am a perfectionist so your products are what i'm looking for in a kit. So many kits out there are really hard to fit and you just end up with junk in the end so I can't wait to get one of your kits. I'm just waiting for you to start making the kit i want hopefully i'll still be around when it comes out !! lol
Few can comprehend, or even imagine the challenges of producing precision fit inlet & finish of a rifle stock to accept interchangeable components. As stable as high end Maple can be, it is not as stable as many would think. Given the variations of boring & milling a stock, you have tool wear over time, and replacements are terribly expensive. Even the necessary time to re-sharpen or replace a tool, this is time production ceases, again very expensive. Add this to the extensive overhead costs that continue to rise of a shop, warehouse, utilities etc. I admire your fortitude, work ethic, and perseverance to bring your customers the highest quality product, at a moderate price, built in the USA. I am no expert, or very experienced. But I know a quality product when I see it.
I've got two Kibler kits -- so far. Saving up for the fowler! Other muzzleloader kits I've built, am building, or in my stash are by Traditions, Pedersoli, and Investarms. I've also recently taken apart and refinished an India-made replica musket. Hands down, Jim's kits are the best of all of these in terms of fit, detail, and engineering. It's not even close.
Hey Mr. Kibler, just wanna say that your kits are definitely the finest muzzleloader rifles on the market today, I just finished my first one, a Colonial in 50cal, and its amazing (hopefully the first of many!)!! My dad has half a dozen rifles from different makers and the Colonial is for sure the best of the lot! Can't wait for muzzleloader deer season!
Jim has always been very transparent about his shop, processes, materials and products which denotes a high degree of integrity, honesty and commitment. Kibler's Longrifles provides an affordable and quality product to a very limited niche market. A product that Kibler's obviously stands behind and supports well. His kits, as provided, still require a limited amount of assembly and that limited amount of assembly still requires some practical skill sets to be in play on behalf of the builder. "To thy own self be true" when it comes to your abilities so seek advice as needed and the build process will be a rewarding experience.
Excellent video & very well explained. People need to understand this is NOT a cheap import kit. These take time & patients to build as u intended it to be built. The wood is all natural - it's nature's perfection !!!! I am hoping to order a kit myself later in the year . Thank you for what u do.
Jim @tropifiori 0 seconds ago I just finished my Mountain Runner. I am very pleased. I made a few calls and the young lady was always very helpful. It’s a gorgeous rifle.The fancy maple is the prettiest wood I have ever touched and I have made period furniture for years.The fit and i letting was precise out of the box. This was a lot of fun. Frank (virginia)
Thank you for making an excellent product. The SMR was my first build. Putting it together was an excellent education. Your help during the process was greatly appreciated.
Do not relax your tolerances. I tight gun is a good gun - wood to metal fit is sign of a great workmanship. Keep doing the great work. I am buying a .54 WR for my birthday in Jan.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC I've wanted to pick up a .54 woodsrunner, but I'd prefer a .62 smootie to be honest. The first quarter of 2024 can't come fast enough.
@@chickensandwich1589 I've got a .54 Woodsrunner that's done and a .36 SMR in the box for this winter. Perhaps the fowler will be available in time for spring turkey season!
As I have said before you have the Best Idea! Long gun are so much to have one made, and The love of putting one together and keeping to sport and Tradition going!! Thanks Ken Lupold
I assembled 2 kits this year (a regular & an incised carved 54 cal woodsrunner) and finally got out to the range last week. If I get too impatient waiting for the fowler, I might buy a third. The kits are absolutely fantastic and require just enough work to make it feel like you contributed to the making of an excellent flintlock. And they are a joy to shoot! On my first I got the wrong parts set -- best to ask Jim's staff, who are super accommodating, if you have assembly issues rather than fret over it. Jim's videos are most helpful in building/finishing the rifles.
I have 3 SMR's under my belt, one for my grandson, one for my son, and one for me, as well as a Colonial Rifle. Looking forward to a Woods Runner, engraved, in the near future and, God willing, a Hawken when it becomes available. I've built my own fowler years ago, so that's one I'll pass on unless someone in the family would like one. All the kits had some sort of minor fitting and that's expected and the fun of building your own. I swear, some people want to open the box and have the kit assemble itself. Keep up the good work and I look forward to doing business with you again very soon.
Given the quality of your kits, your accessibility and your willingness to go the extra mile, it's a shame that apparently you've gotten enough attitude from clueless customers to feel you should make this video. I do believe the number of people who think being rude and belligerent is acceptable behavior has risen dramatically in the last six or eight years. I've assembled and finished your Southern Mountain and Woodsrunner kits; I love them both; and I have a feeling I'm also going to wind up with a fowler....
I love my Colonial 58 cal. I want a 58 flintlock pistol to go with it. Do you see pistol kits in the future? Best guns ever and best kit too. Thanks Jim and Katherine and your employees too.
I feel your pain. I once had one client that looked over the surface of a counter top with a jewelers loop looking for God knows what. I had another that took the drawers out of her custom kitchen cabinet drawer bank stuck their head inside the cabinet looking for a defect to try and have a reason to not make the final payment. She didn’t find any thing. There are some idiots out there and worse. It’s hard to screen these types out but not impossible to do so. I have returned deposits to red flag clients to avoid the aggravation no matter what.
Hi Jim can’t wait to buy The woodsrunner will be in may for my birthday keep up The great work also my big question is what power are your optivisors 1.75 or 2 x thanks
Kibler kits are a gift from God for those that want the highest quality kit and their own piece of history. For those that don’t have all the tools, skills, and time. They are the easiest kits on the market for someone with basic woodworking skills. I find it amazing that anyone would would make a negative comment about any of his kits! I own 5! Though I know from going through life there are people that just can’t grasp ideas or concepts. I think you know who you are but your ego gets in the way. Put your ego away and get on the phone with Jim and his team and listen! Watch his videos! They will get you through the assembly and you will be amazed once you grasp what is before you. Some people despite their intelligence should not be allowed to touch a screwdriver! If you purchase a kit and run into a snag it’s you not the kit! Give them a call! If you still can’t grasp it have someone assemble it for you. To all those before you that have built Guns you look foolish!Thank you Jim Kibler for the finest long rifles on this planet!
Outstanding! Some day I'm hopefully going to get the chance to own one of your rifles. The quality looks absolutely fantastic, love your videos, keep up the great work. Thx Dean J.
Selling a product that contains natural components (ie a gunstock that was cut from a tree) to customers that range from professional gunmakers to people that use their shoes to hammer in a nail for a picture frame. Having built a couple Kibler kits- if you are having a problem with it...its you not the kit. Only bad thing about Kiblers Longrifles is they dont offer a Hawken yet.
Oh how I wish you would make a percussion hawken kit..... I know your version would be the most accurate representation, and I would be all over that kit. I like learning about flintlocks but will never own one. Just doesn't blow my skirt up.
Maybe consider producing (in-house or outside) brass or other metal patch boxes that'll fit previously made stocks, as an additional option. I've seen folks on Y/T that've done this. Best wishes for continued success with your company - a SMR is definitely in my future!!!
Hi Jim I just took notice of the beautiful side plate on the flintlock picture that is displayed in the subscription image for your channel. I would be very interested in more details about this rifle and maybe a full picture. Can you accomodate me on that? Best Regards
If I can add one comment about shipping. I live in Canada, when the gun leaves your door I can track it to the US border and that is it. When it leaves the US I cannot follow it any more. When in Canada it is delivered by Canada Post. Would it be possible to get the Canada Post tracking number? Just a quick note, the guy who delivered the package was about as exited about the gun as I. I gave him as much information as I could about the gun. You may have gotten an order from him. LOL
Always have a trolls or nay sayers,take your time if something doesn't seem right call Kiblers and let them guide you, I've built a Woods Runner, only thing I had to do was clear somedust or spinters then sand and finish. Kibler kits go together alot easier than the kits in the 70-80's
It always amazes me the religious fervor with which followers on the internet respond. This type doesn't tolerate "dissent" from the "message". Forgetting, mind you, that's it's a business and as a business its sole existence is due to the buyer. Which is great news! So, perhaps, instead of the Church of "trust the word", Jim, focus also on communication and showing more gratefulness to the buyers, all of whom buy, and who part with a not insignificant amount of money because they TRUST. But all businesses have to work on the service side of things, and simply deal with misunderstandings and/or criticism serenely, it's just as important as the product. Perhaps a _humble_ thank you as an approach rather than "we're doing you a favor" by building a great product would go a long way in smoothing responses from customers. Building a great product is what gets you the business, service is what keeps the client returning, it's capitalism not the word of God taken on Faith. Trust is earned, some people trust like babes, like we see in this political climate, some you have to work harder for, they are both worthy when in business. I'm satisfied with the product and this comment is meant constructively, and hopefully you're not too proud to see, so in closing: ask what you can do for the client not what the client can do for Kibler. Hope I didn't blaspheme by daring to give my take.
You sound a wee bit sanctimonious there. I don't think Jim needs to put up with nonsense and bs from clueless, unfriendly people to show his 'gratefulness.' That's especially true in his case, given that almost everyone who interacts with him, Katherine and the rest of the staff is impressed by how accessible, friendly and helpful they are. The customer isn't always right, and doesn't always deserve to have his butt kissed.
Please make a list of tools you will need to put together the rifles. I want to build one of these, but lord does this make it complicated. Not knowing what tools to get makes this very hard. If you have one already, please direct me to it. (Southern mountain rifle specifically pls)
Seems to me that, before undertaking a Kibler kit, a feller or a lady might take on, say, a Traditions kit or two. I have put together three Traditions kits, and I learned with each one of them. Now I think that I'm ready to take on a Kibler kit. Now, I suspect that a Kibler kit will be closer to finished than the Traditions kits. But I wanted to get some experience before tackling a more expensive kit.
Ty vm for the great work you and your workers do.. question I have is can you diluent iron nitrate or aqutfortis? If so what would you use? I was thinking diluentting it could give a lighter color after you apply heat to get the reaction. What are your thought on this Jim? Ty 4 any and all intell u can give me
I was wondering if you still had any plans on offering a hawken rifle. I do hope to be able to buy a couple of your longrifles kits in the future but I'm also interested in building a hawken kit if you ever do offer them I believe it would be hard to find a better company to get a quality kit from as yours are at the top I've built two kits in my life first was a CVA mountain rifle and the second was a thompson center hawkens can't wait to be able to get the higher quality kit from you thanks for your time
Thanks for the support! We do still have plans of a Hawken but it will be at LEAST a year or two. We have been working on the fowler that will be ready first quarter next year for a couple of years. We want to do a lot of research to get it right.
My god what is wrong with people. They bought a kit. It’s a kit, it requires fitting🤦♂️ I can tell you from personal experience the customer service idiot and social media. I had a guy bad mouth me and my work on his rifle on a very prominent gun forum (modern center fire stuff) he ran his mouth about how bad this and that was tried to stir up controversy claimed I was using inferior tools, claimed another builder was better, yet that builder used the same brand tools as I did. I did remind this customer of a warranty that I stand behind and he needs to look at his paperwork. The forum did a good job of telling this idiot to STFU. You can’t bad mouth someone’s customer service if you’ve never tried to get an issue corrected. And on to his issue. He had functioning issues with his rifle due to crap he used, and crap he did after the rifle left my shop. I assured him the rifle was fine when it left my shop. Once that was posted and the others backed me up. It really seemed like he was a plant trying to bad mouth my shop and promote the other shop. 🤦♂️ And that’s why I don’t work on anybody’s stuff anymore. I work on my stuff and my stuff only.
Everything can't be perfect. I own two of his kits and I knew from the start that things would not just fall together on their own. I ran into an issue or two but nothing I couldn't find a way to deal with. If you expect something that will just put itself together, then you are barking up the wrong tree. I'd suggest you get a builder to build one for you.
Are there any plans for a kit that is a little shorter overall, say 57" ? I want to build a Kibler in the Southern Mountain style but need to be able to get it into my safe . Thanks
Ha! Thanks for the support. We have shipped a lot of rifle kits so I'm sure in a 100 years there will still be a bunch around. It is kinda neat to think about. ~Katherine
Im that guy from Germany who got a damaged kit delivered by UPS. And long story short: They didnt refund anything. They simply didnt reply after a while although I ve sent them pictures of that fist sized hole in the wooden box, the dents in the stock and the barrel. I gave it up and will try to repair it on my own. And I still dont want a refund from you guys. It wasnt your fault and its not justice to take from neighbor A, because neighbor B has damaged your stuff. But I wouldnt recommend UPS to anybody.
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience - it seems like UPS is great for smaller packages but the kit boxes get beat up by tires rolling loose in the trains/trucks and getting jammed in the belts
Absolutely the finest flintlock kits available.
thanks for watching!
I've been making muzzleloaders for longer than I like to think about. These kits are perfect and amazing. I've noticed lately that people probably aren't taught basic skills in grade school and high school. I think it is great that Jim has taken the time to do a lot of excellent "how to" videos.
Glad you like them! I know that hand skills are not really taught anymore and we are trying to help customers who maybe don't have a ton of experience still have a great looking and functioning gun. We will keep the videos coming as we realize how important they are. Thanks for the comment
Agree about the vids. What a wonderful asset to have during assembly! I sat my laptop up on my bench and followed each video step-by-step. Particularly helpful when finishing. 10 times better than any manual.
You cannot get any better than Jim's kits. If you think you can slap yourself in the face and wake up. I have built several beautiful rifles that will last for generations.
Thank you Jim and staff.
Thank so much, your kind words are very much appreciated!
Fowler tease got me excited. Jim shouldn't have to make a video like this but some people's kids make it necessary.
The man and his employees know what they're doing people. Go look at some of his custom work, he's a Professional.
Bree deserves a raise.
Well I need to follow up.
I ordered a Woodsrunner during the summer sale ships tomorrow. I got my kit in four days. it arrived on Saturday and I had it all dry fit within about two hours of very careful examination and assembly. There was near zero fitting needed on my stock. The barrel was snug in the channel but it was yet to be draw filed. After filling it fit like a glove. The amazing thing was how perfect the tang and barrel seat is. I blackened all the parts with a kerosene lamp and everything marked off fully seated like the wood grew around the barrel. Here it is Monday And my metal is prepped and I'm final sanding the stock. I'm ready to blue my metal bits and when my tannic acid shows up with the aqua fortis I'll be good to go. I think I'll be able to go do load work up end of June.
I've never seen a "prefit" stock that fits as well as your stock nor one that almost needs no sanding. I can tell there was a huge investment of time and fixturing to make a kit as close to perfect as possible. I think I'm going to order a SMR next. Unless you decide to build a true Hawken.
It’s a kit. You are going to have to do some work. Your videos made assembling this a piece of cake. Absolutely love it. Communication with Bree was great. Was on top of everything and was a pleasure to deal with.
We appreciate that, thanks for watching!
I almost never comment on any platform, but I am going to now. It's time for everyone out there to realize what a gift we have all been given through Jim's brilliant work producing these kits. I knew of Jim's work as a custom builder long before the first kit was realized. His style of building was and is my favorite. Precise perfection with no artificial aging. What he is accomplishing now with these kits is monumental. He could have stopped with the SMR, and rested on the proverbial laurels. Now two more kits,another coming. He does everything but grow the trees for the stock wood. Just look at the locks from the inside. They are a work of art. Rifling a barrel on a CNC turning center is the very definition of innovation. If you have not worked in these disciplines it is understandably difficult to realize just what is required to produce this level of work. Both quality and quantity. The video title is perfect. Trust them. If you are having problems,look to yourself.
Thank you for your kind words. Your support is greatly appreciated!
@@kiblerjimHi. Can you (or have you) do a tutorial on putting a finish on a cherry wood stock? Thanks from a new customer.
I put a cva kit together back in 1980. There was no way you could get the barrel to fit without 3/16 gap. That was fudging the lock, end cap, breach tang. Moma me,ya. Everything had to be fit, shortened, lengthened,
I can't wait to get one of these kits. A few friends have multiple masterpieces from Jim.
I'm saving my nickels & dimes.
I will get one!!!!!
Thanks for watching!
I’ve never read or heard one complaint or negative comment about y’all.
Everyone I’ve seen or read are good and how good the quality of your products are.
So I would say, keep on keeping on 👍🏻
Thank you so much!
Unboxed my woodsrunner on a Thursday and was shooting on Sunday!! By far the nicest and historically accurate rifle kit on the market. Great company and employees!!
He does make a fine well engineered kit; Iove mine. But, why not take your time and not rush - haste breeds errors. There is no trophy for the "Quickest Slapped Together" category.
That is great to hear! Thank you for your business.
Can't wait for the fowler!
I have nothing but good to say about these people.
They make GREAT stuff.
They are a cut above on customer service too.
Bree knows what's going on. You can tell that she has spent time in the shop and is not just a voice on the phone.
They know what they are doing and they do it well.
ASK FIRST, and you will have no problems.
Thanks for getting it!!!
Accept that he's an asshole.
I ordered A 45 caliber Southern mountain rifle kit. I hope the walnut stock has a lot of character. I ordered it on March the 18th 2024 cant wait to get it I love watching all your videos.They're awesome Thank you.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Thank you for your business!
I investigate before I invest ... your videos and clear attention to detail are exactly why I chose to purchase from you, and utilize those who do, for my education in constructing quality muzzleloaders. I wish all businesses were are personally attached, and vertically integrated as yours. Thank you - Jim H. / Oak Harbor, OH
Your products are top-notch! I made your SMR in Cherry. I had a few issues, but those were due to my own errors, not yours. I was able to adjust my methods and prevent further mistakes. The mistakes I made were easy to fix. After sanding the ramrod, it fit just fine. If you watch the construction videos, the kit is quite easy to assemble and finish. My SMR turned out to be a beautiful gun. I love the cherry wood. I used only TruOil to finish the stock so that the wood would turn a deeper color over time through sunlight exposure. The staff at Kimbler are all very friendly, quick to answer questions, and have high-quality customer service. I would never hesitate to recommend Kimbler kits and products.
Thanks for your business and for recommending us. We really appreciate it.
Wow! I got a colonial in 58 cal. And a woodsrunner in 54cal, and I'm saving for a woodsrunner ingraved. Now I got to save for a fowler. You got to love kiblers kits 🤠
thank you very much!
I appreciate your plea for understanding. Blame has become too common. Questions rather than accusations get problems solved. Keep up the good work!
Thanks!
Hi Jim, seems a shame that you needed to do a vid like this. You standards are second to none in my book! And your personal skills are so complete that I am sure you don't have people around that can't match those skills. Great work sir and keep the learning skills coming please. Cheers Jim. 👍🍻
Thank you kindly!
A fowler in the first quarter of next year......Now I wont be able to sleep till then!!!! Lol.
Thanks for a great product! Taking my Kibler SMR to the hardwoods in the morning for our muzzleloader opener. Blessings!!
Our pleasure! So happy your enjoying it!
I’ve put together a Woodsrunner and have a SMR waiting to get started on. My experience with the company, as for as product and customer service, has been outstanding!👍🏻
Thanks for the business!
I started working on my colonial 2 days ago. It is an awesome kit! Of course there was a little fitting, but a couple sharp chisels and flies is all I needed. The best part was when I messed up a patch box cover, I could just call for another one. Thanks for all you do , great company!
We truly appreciate the support and are happy we could help you out.
Couldn’t be happier with the product you sold me! 40 years as a mold maker and I must say your kits require very little hand fitting. I am waiting on your Hawken rifle kit to development.
Thanks! A couple years down the road we should have the Hawken complete. There is a lot of research we want to do to get it right. We are glad you are happy
@@kiblerjim well, I guess until you get your Hawken rifle developed. I’ll have to be happy with my Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken rifle.. thanks again for producing and standing behind a great product!
Love these Q&A style videos or ones that address issues. Always very helpful. Also that fowler tease
Thanks! I know I (Katherine) looked like I was drunk filming when I was showing the fowler silhouette but I was actually trying to give everyone a glimpse lol.
I recently purchased a Colonial kit from Kibler. There has been minor inletting needed but nothing to complain about. It is a kit after all. Jims video's show everything we may run into and his artistic ability is inspiring. The post service where I live is very unreliable and these folks went out of their way to ship the kit in a more secure way. Thank you guys for putting out one fantastic product. I'll try to do my part before showing it off at the range.
We sure do enjoy the scenery and wildlife around here. I'm pleased to hear that you appreciate it as well, thank you for watching!
Very diplomatic presentation.
Thanks--we appreciate the support.
Good video, personally I think you have a lot of people like me who are first time kit builders and don’t know how to ask the right questions I know if I had to pay you by the hour for all the help you have given me this rifle would cost a heck of a lot more than I paid for it. You’ll always have people complain about any little thing. Like I said first time buyers are unlikely to know anything at all about the process and may come across as rude. But really we’re just beginners and are a pain in the ass! Keep up the good work. No one is doing it better than you folks. And Bree is an excellent employee in my opinion.
Thank you for the comment--we are happy to have the first timers and want to help them have success. We know it is on us to spread the information and teach better with better instructions and we are hoping to be able to do more of that as time goes on. These videos are part of that process. Thanks so much for the support.
Jim, I don't own one of your guns yet but all the video's and forums I'm on have nothing but good things to say about you and your products. Just me looking at the video's I can tell your products are top notch and of high quality I am a perfectionist so your products are what i'm looking for in a kit. So many kits out there are really hard to fit and you just end up with junk in the end so I can't wait to get one of your kits. I'm just waiting for you to start making the kit i want hopefully i'll still be around when it comes out !! lol
Few can comprehend, or even imagine the challenges of producing precision fit inlet & finish of a rifle stock to accept interchangeable components.
As stable as high end Maple can be, it is not as stable as many would think.
Given the variations of boring & milling a stock, you have tool wear over time, and replacements are terribly expensive. Even the necessary time to re-sharpen or replace a tool, this is time production ceases, again very expensive.
Add this to the extensive overhead costs that continue to rise of a shop, warehouse, utilities etc.
I admire your fortitude, work ethic, and perseverance to bring your customers the highest quality product, at a moderate price, built in the USA.
I am no expert, or very experienced.
But I know a quality product when I see it.
Thank you so much for your kind words and support, it means alot to us over here at Kibler's Longrifles!
I've got two Kibler kits -- so far. Saving up for the fowler!
Other muzzleloader kits I've built, am building, or in my stash are by Traditions, Pedersoli, and Investarms. I've also recently taken apart and refinished an India-made replica musket. Hands down, Jim's kits are the best of all of these in terms of fit, detail, and engineering. It's not even close.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed. Thanks for the support!
Hey Mr. Kibler, just wanna say that your kits are definitely the finest muzzleloader rifles on the market today, I just finished my first one, a Colonial in 50cal, and its amazing (hopefully the first of many!)!! My dad has half a dozen rifles from different makers and the Colonial is for sure the best of the lot! Can't wait for muzzleloader deer season!
Awesome! We are happy to hear you guys are pleased with the kit
No better rifles! I appreciate your work establishing your company.
Thanks for the kind comment!
Jim has always been very transparent about his shop, processes, materials and products which denotes a high degree of integrity, honesty and commitment. Kibler's Longrifles provides an affordable and quality product to a very limited niche market. A product that Kibler's obviously stands behind and supports well. His kits, as provided, still require a limited amount of assembly and that limited amount of assembly still requires some practical skill sets to be in play on behalf of the builder. "To thy own self be true" when it comes to your abilities so seek advice as needed and the build process will be a rewarding experience.
Your kind words are greatly appreciated, thank you very much for your support!
Excellent video & very well explained.
People need to understand this is NOT a cheap import kit.
These take time & patients to build as u intended it to be built.
The wood is all natural - it's nature's perfection !!!!
I am hoping to order a kit myself later in the year .
Thank you for what u do.
Thank you for our kind words and support. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the video!
Encountered many of these challenges building my Woodsrunner. Persistence, patience pay off, try then try again:)
Good evening from Syracuse NY brother and everyone else thank you for sharing your information and details and craftsmanship
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing my friends
Jim
@tropifiori
0 seconds ago
I just finished my Mountain Runner. I am very pleased. I made a few calls and the young lady was always very helpful. It’s a gorgeous rifle.The fancy maple is the prettiest wood I have ever touched and I have made period furniture for years.The fit and i letting was precise out of the box.
This was a lot of fun.
Frank (virginia)
Woodsrunner
Thank you kindly.
very pleased with the gun kit I put together
Happy to hear it!
Got a Colonial longrifle. Very satisfied with the piece. Thank You for a "kit" that functions VERY WELL.
Thank you for making an excellent product. The SMR was my first build. Putting it together was an excellent education. Your help during the process was greatly appreciated.
I'm happy to hear the videos are helpful. Thanks for watching!
Do not relax your tolerances. I tight gun is a good gun - wood to metal fit is sign of a great workmanship. Keep doing the great work. I am buying a .54 WR for my birthday in Jan.
Awesome--thanks for the support! We look forward to getting you a kit!
1:41 Is that what I think it is?? 🧐 Take my money! 😂
Exactly!
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC I've wanted to pick up a .54 woodsrunner, but I'd prefer a .62 smootie to be honest. The first quarter of 2024 can't come fast enough.
@@chickensandwich1589 I've got a .54 Woodsrunner that's done and a .36 SMR in the box for this winter. Perhaps the fowler will be available in time for spring turkey season!
Beautiful silhouette. Can't wait.
12:23
As I have said before you have the Best Idea! Long gun are so much to have one made, and The love of putting one together and keeping to sport and Tradition going!! Thanks Ken Lupold
thank you, we really appreciate it!
I assembled 2 kits this year (a regular & an incised carved 54 cal woodsrunner) and finally got out to the range last week. If I get too impatient waiting for the fowler, I might buy a third. The kits are absolutely fantastic and require just enough work to make it feel like you contributed to the making of an excellent flintlock. And they are a joy to shoot! On my first I got the wrong parts set -- best to ask Jim's staff, who are super accommodating, if you have assembly issues rather than fret over it. Jim's videos are most helpful in building/finishing the rifles.
I have 3 SMR's under my belt, one for my grandson, one for my son, and one for me, as well as a Colonial Rifle. Looking forward to a Woods Runner, engraved, in the near future and, God willing, a Hawken when it becomes available. I've built my own fowler years ago, so that's one I'll pass on unless someone in the family would like one. All the kits had some sort of minor fitting and that's expected and the fun of building your own. I swear, some people want to open the box and have the kit assemble itself. Keep up the good work and I look forward to doing business with you again very soon.
Absolutely love my woodsrunner
Very glad to hear it! Thank you for your business!
This is a great video. I work in manufacturing, and have a lot of cliant contact and 8:47 is the best.
Built 3 Kibler kits and they were a dream to build. Waiting for a Fowler or Hawken :)
Thanks for the business! We will have that fowler for you soon, the Hawken not so soon but it will be coming!
Kibler's Longrifles are Hawken Horse approved. ✔ love my Woodsrunner!
Given the quality of your kits, your accessibility and your willingness to go the extra mile, it's a shame that apparently you've gotten enough attitude from clueless customers to feel you should make this video. I do believe the number of people who think being rude and belligerent is acceptable behavior has risen dramatically in the last six or eight years.
I've assembled and finished your Southern Mountain and Woodsrunner kits; I love them both; and I have a feeling I'm also going to wind up with a fowler....
We appreciate your kind words and support. Thanks for watching!
Informative video reminded me of some of your older videos answering questions.
I'm glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching!
Great video, Jim & Katherine
Thanks for watching!
Can't get any better than that, imo. Thanks for sharing y'all and I hope to purchase one of these fine firearms in the near future! From Sophia, N.C.
I’m really looking forward to the Fowler kit.
I'll be ordering a fowler as soon as it's available!
Thanks for the support!
Love my Woodsrunner, but cant wait to buy one of the fowlers.
I love my Colonial 58 cal. I want a 58 flintlock pistol to go with it. Do you see pistol kits in the future? Best guns ever and best kit too. Thanks Jim and Katherine and your employees too.
I feel your pain. I once had one client that looked over the surface of a counter top with a jewelers loop looking for God knows what. I had another that took the drawers out of her custom kitchen cabinet drawer bank stuck their head inside the cabinet looking for a defect to try and have a reason to not make the final payment. She didn’t find any thing. There are some idiots out there and worse. It’s hard to screen these types out but not impossible to do so. I have returned deposits to red flag clients to avoid the aggravation no matter what.
Hi Jim can’t wait to buy The woodsrunner will be in may for my birthday keep up The great work also my big question is what power are your optivisors 1.75 or 2 x thanks
How exciting! Thanks for your support, 2.5 works good for my eyes!
@@kiblerjim thanks appreciate the response!!
Only thing keeping me from ordering one is I’m wavering between the Woodsrunner and the Colonial. Analysis Paralysis 😂
The fowler the one I'm waiting for to come out.
We are excited--although Jim doesn't look excited you can't always tell what he is thinking by his face!
Kibler kits are a gift from God for those that want the highest quality kit and their own piece of history. For those that don’t have all the tools, skills, and time. They are the easiest kits on the market for someone with basic woodworking skills. I find it amazing that anyone would would make a negative comment about any of his kits! I own 5! Though I know from going through life there are people that just can’t grasp ideas or concepts. I think you know who you are but your ego gets in the way. Put your ego away and get on the phone with Jim and his team and listen! Watch his videos! They will get you through the assembly and you will be amazed once you grasp what is before you. Some people despite their intelligence should not be allowed to touch a screwdriver! If you purchase a kit and run into a snag it’s you not the kit! Give them a call! If you still can’t grasp it have someone assemble it for you. To all those before you that have built Guns you look foolish!Thank you Jim Kibler for the finest long rifles on this planet!
Great company, great products! Keep it up.
Thanks for your support!
Outstanding! Some day I'm hopefully going to get the chance to own one of your rifles. The quality looks absolutely fantastic, love your videos, keep up the great work. Thx Dean J.
Thanks for your comment and we look forward to maybe doing business with you down the road.
Smile ! We trust you
Selling a product that contains natural components (ie a gunstock that was cut from a tree) to customers that range from professional gunmakers to people that use their shoes to hammer in a nail for a picture frame. Having built a couple Kibler kits- if you are having a problem with it...its you not the kit. Only bad thing about Kiblers Longrifles is they dont offer a Hawken yet.
I have a great flintlock because you are a great company.
Jin is a true craftsman
Oh how I wish you would make a percussion hawken kit..... I know your version would be the most accurate representation, and I would be all over that kit. I like learning about flintlocks but will never own one. Just doesn't blow my skirt up.
I can't wait to order a Woodsrunner.
Maybe consider producing (in-house or outside) brass or other metal patch boxes that'll fit previously made stocks, as an additional option. I've seen folks on Y/T that've done this.
Best wishes for continued success with your company - a SMR is definitely in my future!!!
Catherine kept giving us a sneak peak at the fowler stock😂
Yep 😆. Definitely on purpose
Hi Jim
I just took notice of the beautiful side plate on the flintlock picture that is displayed in the subscription image for your channel.
I would be very interested in more details about this rifle and maybe a full picture.
Can you accomodate me on that?
Best Regards
If I can add one comment about shipping. I live in Canada, when the gun leaves your door I can track it to the US border and that is it. When it leaves the US I cannot follow it any more. When in Canada it is delivered by Canada Post. Would it be possible to get the Canada Post tracking number?
Just a quick note, the guy who delivered the package was about as exited about the gun as I. I gave him as much information as I could about the gun. You may have gotten an order from him. LOL
Always have a trolls or nay sayers,take your time if something doesn't seem right call Kiblers and let them guide you, I've built a Woods Runner, only thing I had to do was clear somedust or spinters then sand and finish. Kibler kits go together alot easier than the kits in the 70-80's
Thanks--this is good advice and the kits are way easier than back in the day. The technology allows us to make things go together well
It always amazes me the religious fervor with which followers on the internet respond. This type doesn't tolerate "dissent" from the "message". Forgetting, mind you, that's it's a business and as a business its sole existence is due to the buyer. Which is great news! So, perhaps, instead of the Church of "trust the word", Jim, focus also on communication and showing more gratefulness to the buyers, all of whom buy, and who part with a not insignificant amount of money because they TRUST. But all businesses have to work on the service side of things, and simply deal with misunderstandings and/or criticism serenely, it's just as important as the product. Perhaps a _humble_ thank you as an approach rather than "we're doing you a favor" by building a great product would go a long way in smoothing responses from customers. Building a great product is what gets you the business, service is what keeps the client returning, it's capitalism not the word of God taken on Faith. Trust is earned, some people trust like babes, like we see in this political climate, some you have to work harder for, they are both worthy when in business. I'm satisfied with the product and this comment is meant constructively, and hopefully you're not too proud to see, so in closing: ask what you can do for the client not what the client can do for Kibler. Hope I didn't blaspheme by daring to give my take.
Interesting take
You sound a wee bit sanctimonious there. I don't think Jim needs to put up with nonsense and bs from clueless, unfriendly people to show his 'gratefulness.' That's especially true in his case, given that almost everyone who interacts with him, Katherine and the rest of the staff is impressed by how accessible, friendly and helpful they are. The customer isn't always right, and doesn't always deserve to have his butt kissed.
Please make a list of tools you will need to put together the rifles. I want to build one of these, but lord does this make it complicated. Not knowing what tools to get makes this very hard. If you have one already, please direct me to it.
(Southern mountain rifle specifically pls)
Seems to me that, before undertaking a Kibler kit, a feller or a lady might take on, say, a Traditions kit or two. I have put together three Traditions kits, and I learned with each one of them. Now I think that I'm ready to take on a Kibler kit.
Now, I suspect that a Kibler kit will be closer to finished than the Traditions kits. But I wanted to get some experience before tackling a more expensive kit.
Ty vm for the great work you and your workers do.. question I have is can you diluent iron nitrate or aqutfortis? If so what would you use? I was thinking diluentting it could give a lighter color after you apply heat to get the reaction. What are your thought on this Jim? Ty 4 any and all intell u can give me
Yes, you can dilute it with water to get a lighter result
I was wondering if you still had any plans on offering a hawken rifle. I do hope to be able to buy a couple of your longrifles kits in the future but I'm also interested in building a hawken kit if you ever do offer them I believe it would be hard to find a better company to get a quality kit from as yours are at the top I've built two kits in my life first was a CVA mountain rifle and the second was a thompson center hawkens can't wait to be able to get the higher quality kit from you thanks for your time
Thanks for the support! We do still have plans of a Hawken but it will be at LEAST a year or two. We have been working on the fowler that will be ready first quarter next year for a couple of years. We want to do a lot of research to get it right.
Bree is top notch!
Thanks--she really does the work of 3 people and is amazing
My god what is wrong with people. They bought a kit. It’s a kit, it requires fitting🤦♂️
I can tell you from personal experience the customer service idiot and social media. I had a guy bad mouth me and my work on his rifle on a very prominent gun forum (modern center fire stuff) he ran his mouth about how bad this and that was tried to stir up controversy claimed I was using inferior tools, claimed another builder was better, yet that builder used the same brand tools as I did. I did remind this customer of a warranty that I stand behind and he needs to look at his paperwork. The forum did a good job of telling this idiot to STFU. You can’t bad mouth someone’s customer service if you’ve never tried to get an issue corrected.
And on to his issue. He had functioning issues with his rifle due to crap he used, and crap he did after the rifle left my shop. I assured him the rifle was fine when it left my shop. Once that was posted and the others backed me up. It really seemed like he was a plant trying to bad mouth my shop and promote the other shop. 🤦♂️
And that’s why I don’t work on anybody’s stuff anymore. I work on my stuff and my stuff only.
Tell us more about this fowler
You can watch our new fowler video here with all our current updates on it: th-cam.com/video/A2vO-qfGDuE/w-d-xo.html
@@kiblerjim thanks, watched it a couple days ago (I think)
Everything can't be perfect. I own two of his kits and I knew from the start that things would not just fall together on their own. I ran into an issue or two but nothing I couldn't find a way to deal with. If you expect something that will just put itself together, then you are barking up the wrong tree. I'd suggest you get a builder to build one for you.
Thanks for the comment!
Is there any possibility of a left handed kit in the future?
Possibly years down the road
Don’t worry Jim, even the people who live in Wisconsin don’t know where Wisconsin is.
It seems like a lovely state!
Are there any plans for a kit that is a little shorter overall, say 57" ? I want to build a Kibler in the Southern Mountain style but need to be able to get it into my safe . Thanks
The Woodsrunner is 54"
Any chance you have a left hand version of your rifle kits available in the future.
Possibly years down the road
Trust Me. I say that all the time. Of course, I'm a lawyer. 🤣
A hundred years from now people will be saying “Wow is that a Kibler”.
Ha! Thanks for the support. We have shipped a lot of rifle kits so I'm sure in a 100 years there will still be a bunch around. It is kinda neat to think about. ~Katherine
I’d like to get my hands on a list of the complainers.
How about a left hand kit?
Possibly years down the road
what are the dimensions for the mountain rifle compared to the Kentucky long rifle or are they the same gun?
Not sure exactly what you mean
Cool man cool
thanks.
👍🙏
I wish y'all had a layaway plan. It's hard to save back the full price for one when you're on disability.
Instructions unclear... My smr now takes AR mags.
Im that guy from Germany who got a damaged kit delivered by UPS. And long story short: They didnt refund anything. They simply didnt reply after a while although I ve sent them pictures of that fist sized hole in the wooden box, the dents in the stock and the barrel.
I gave it up and will try to repair it on my own.
And I still dont want a refund from you guys. It wasnt your fault and its not justice to take from neighbor A, because neighbor B has damaged your stuff.
But I wouldnt recommend UPS to anybody.
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience - it seems like UPS is great for smaller packages but the kit boxes get beat up by tires rolling loose in the trains/trucks and getting jammed in the belts