Hanging out with Jim: Questions and Answers Part 1 August 2024

For the hospice fundraiser:

Jim answers questions from Facebook and talks about upcoming projects, how projects are planned, shows some machining and some wood as well as some modeling. A little of this and that. We aren't through all the questions and will film another video this weekend to address more questions.

[Ken-xmrf]

It's very cool to see how you're bringing modern production methods and mindset to muzzleloader manufacturing. There were folks who said these guns were too complicated for this. You're proved them wrong. Well done.

[SamVasta]

I just finished a woodsrunner, I’m thankful for the technology and the expertise that allows you to make these flintlocks, I just couldn’t find the time to finish one otherwise. I’m going to show it off at a mountainman rendezvous in the end of September (Fall River, Kansas)!

[richarddean]

"Two different guns were smushed together in the lock area". That was funny. It will be interesting to see what Kibler comes up with, in terms of a Hawken design, when Jim turns his full mind toward the project. Pretty exciting. I would have already purchased the fowler if I didn't get my Colonial American in smoothbore. Thank you for all the effort you put into producing fine longrifles and YouTube content.

[carlschmidt]

The up side to all the requests for more products is that your quality is so great that everyone wants their favorite rifle built to your standards.
I've built four of your kits and built a fifth using one of your locks.
Thanks

[garydzidowski]

I am impressed with the amount of care and detail you are putting into your products. Now that you have me getting back into black powder, I am "patiently" waiting for my Woodsrunner to arrive. Some may criticize your using modern tech for producing these "reproductions", but regardless how they are produced they are still reproductions. As such, they should be made as functional as possible, and you are batting a 1000 in that respect. IMHO looking at the BP offerings at the local sporting goods store they have become mostly modern rifles that burn black powder. These are just to meet the basic requirements to use in BP deer season. The product you have is very suitable for hunting or target, reliable and accurate, and is a true BP arm. Thanks for your passion.

[samueldamewood]

Everything you have going on is impressive.
The quality is there, period.
They have quality people too. Very patient too which is more important than anything else when it comes to dealing with customers.

You run a first class operation, and this very satisfied customer appreciates it.

[trevorfitzgerald]

Really good video, looks like you got your hands full. They are amazing those cnc machines.

[minigpracing]

I refinished a Turkish Walnut airgun with Ferric Nitrate and it came out really good. All deep browns on this sample. Finished up with sealer to a semigloss.

[kirkhowes]

That's an amazing accomplishment I know you are a heck of a lot smarter than me!
Keep on doing what you're doing I mean you had a vision unfortunately it's all working out for you and that's a beautiful thing

[RogerF]

Great video! Really nice to see some of the inner workings of your shop. Was the “mystery” wood curly ash?

[RonOhio]

A good day is a Q&A with Jim and a Baker Rifle video from Rob at British Muzzleloaders, all on the same day. Love watching the machining sequences, and the modeling of the relief carving is top shelf work. If you hand carved that and digitized it, the file size would be astronomical. Off to find the Hospice raffle.

[byronrudrow]

Very well done and helpful video! Very informative. If you ever get to the Brown Bess, I’ll be at the top of the list!👍🤣👍

[ChoppersModelworks]

Just be sure your fully aware of the hazards with mixing and using Potassium Dichromate especially in true powder form as that stuff hardens organic tissue like your lung tissue if inhaled and liver cancer if absorbed through the skin. I say this as i am heading to use it in 19th century oil print photography but i need to be sure myself i have everything ready to dispose any byproduct as well as any accidental spills. It is also VERY reactive and can cause combustion if contacted with some materials. Just trying to give a heads up before someone gets their hands on some without the full awareness before its use.

[richardmeyers]

Jim you greedy capitalist. 😂😂😂 just kidding. Jim let me come to his shop to pick out the stocks I wanted from his inventory on hand. He took time to stop working on everything to help me. Then he prepared the 3 kits I bought. The girls boxed them up for me and helped load them up. Great company great people. Thanks. I hope to get one of the Fowlers in the near future also maybe a hawken.

[johncyr]

Amazing attention to detail!!! My Woodsrunner is just great and a Fowler is in the future. Thanks much.

[alan]

That machining process is quite amazing. Had bought a Colonial rifle a few years ago, and am very happy with it. Have been thinking about a Woodsrunner. You do an awesome job with your rifles.

[ReidCoffield]

Jim, having purchased and put together one of your Colonial rifles I am totally delighted with both the rifle and the service I received from your company. You folks are great! I definitely would purchase a Bess when you get to the point you can add one to your line. Thank you again for a fantastic product, great company, and a darn interesting and informative video!

[calibermedic]

Dear Mr. Kibler and team, I would buy a Long Land Pattern Brown Bess from you **YESTERDAY**! The War of Austrian Succession, the Jacobite Rising, the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, that pattern saw so much history that a kit to your superb standards would be a must-have for military and historical collectors, reenactors, and regular flintlock enthusiasts alike (with the drop in its stock and overall design, it's more of a craft appreciator's and shooter's piece than later patterns).

If you made your Bess appropriate for the French and Indian War and before (Patterns 1730, 1730/40, 1740, and 1742), a wooden ramrod would be perfectly accurate to history and, furthermore, my understanding is that older guns with wooden ramrods soldiered on alongside new-fangled iron ones into the 1770s. Higher cost due to extra features like sling swivels and so on would be perfectly understandable.

Best of luck with the Hawken and thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!

[richstone]

Thank you for sharing your time. I enjoyed the video. Keep up the good work.

[markpasswater]

Love your kits, and quality of them.