Kibler's DOESN'T make it easy to choose

deerslayer303 · November 12, 2022, 02:39 PM

So, I think I need one of each

Although my wallet can't begin to afford that. I'm leaning towards the Woods runner. As my rifles see plenty of woods work, they are no bench queens, so the pretties of the Colonial is not required. I love the way brass looks when it get tarnished, so I guess that counts out the Southern Mountain rifle. As that one comes with steel Butt Plate, trigger guard, etc. That and it only comes in .45 cal. I have no doubt a .45 Long rifle has plenty of stones to take down a White tail. I just already have molds, and balls, for a .50. A small downside, the Woods runner comes with a CNC'd stock, lock, etc. So not much tinkering and fitting required. Not really a big deal to me though. I have binge watched his entire channel on YT. And looked at lots of pics of his customers Rifles. Very nice rifles when finished. Have any of you finished one of Kibler's rifles? IF so please share your experience here. I should be able to place an Order for one soon.

Oliver Sudden · November 12, 2022, 08:04 PM

I did a colonial and it is everything you have read, took me a lazy week to finish and most of that was waiting on finish to dry and the browning process.

IMG_0541 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

deerslayer303 · November 12, 2022, 09:19 PM

Good Grief that thing is BEAUTIFUL. So, do you Not disassemble the lock and finish the metal pieces? Or do you just leave them unfinished? It looks as if yours is unfinished. Which, it looks awesome like that. Thanks for posting the pic.

Oliver Sudden · November 12, 2022, 09:58 PM

The lock was disassembled and polished with stones then color case hardened for durably then the colors on the outside was rubbed off for a satin look.

deerslayer303 · November 13, 2022, 10:28 AM

Did you do that yourself? Or is that something Kiblers does before sending out the lock?

Sent from my E6910 using Tapatalk

Oliver Sudden · November 13, 2022, 02:16 PM

Kibler’s lock comes assembled with a fine sandblasted finish. This one I disassembled and stoned all surfaces as needed then did the bone charcoal color case hardening myself. The sand blasted lock, is to my opinion, the only short coming of his kit. Easy to polish though.

**4V50 Gary** · November 14, 2022, 11:10 AM

Oliver - do you use burnt leather for color case hardening?

Oliver Sudden · November 15, 2022, 09:32 AM

Just wood and bone charcoal, I tried leather, peach pits, casenite, and a few other things many years ago and found them to be of no value. Percentage of wood to bone, temperature, and quench water can give a wide range of effects.

November 12, 2022, 02:39 PM	#1
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,657	Kibler's DOESN'T make it easy to choose So, I think I need one of each Although my wallet can't begin to afford that. I'm leaning towards the Woods runner. As my rifles see plenty of woods work, they are no bench queens, so the pretties of the Colonial is not required. I love the way brass looks when it get tarnished, so I guess that counts out the Southern Mountain rifle. As that one comes with steel Butt Plate, trigger guard, etc. That and it only comes in .45 cal. I have no doubt a .45 Long rifle has plenty of stones to take down a White tail. I just already have molds, and balls, for a .50. A small downside, the Woods runner comes with a CNC'd stock, lock, etc. So not much tinkering and fitting required. Not really a big deal to me though. I have binge watched his entire channel on YT. And looked at lots of pics of his customers Rifles. Very nice rifles when finished. Have any of you finished one of Kibler's rifles? IF so please share your experience here. I should be able to place an Order for one soon. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

November 12, 2022, 09:19 PM	#3
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,657	Good Grief that thing is BEAUTIFUL. So, do you Not disassemble the lock and finish the metal pieces? Or do you just leave them unfinished? It looks as if yours is unfinished. Which, it looks awesome like that. Thanks for posting the pic. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

November 14, 2022, 11:10 AM	#7
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,873	Oliver - do you use burnt leather for color case hardening? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 12, 2022, 08:04 PM	#2
Oliver Sudden Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 273	I did a colonial and it is everything you have read, took me a lazy week to finish and most of that was waiting on finish to dry and the browning process. IMG_0541 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

November 12, 2022, 09:58 PM	#4
Oliver Sudden Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 273	The lock was disassembled and polished with stones then color case hardened for durably then the colors on the outside was rubbed off for a satin look.

November 13, 2022, 10:28 AM	#5
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,657	Did you do that yourself? Or is that something Kiblers does before sending out the lock? Sent from my E6910 using Tapatalk

November 13, 2022, 02:16 PM	#6
Oliver Sudden Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 273	Kibler’s lock comes assembled with a fine sandblasted finish. This one I disassembled and stoned all surfaces as needed then did the bone charcoal color case hardening myself. The sand blasted lock, is to my opinion, the only short coming of his kit. Easy to polish though.

November 15, 2022, 09:32 AM	#8
Oliver Sudden Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 273	Just wood and bone charcoal, I tried leather, peach pits, casenite, and a few other things many years ago and found them to be of no value. Percentage of wood to bone, temperature, and quench water can give a wide range of effects.