Traditions Kentucky Rifle

1873shootist

1873shootist

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Upper Maple Street, Bloom County, Alberta
I was thinking about getting a flintlock for target shooting and possibly hunting, but I didn't want to spend a huge amount for one.

So, I looked at Cabela's website and noticed that they have a Traditions .50 caliber Kentucky without a patchbox listed for $549.00 CAN.

Unfortunately, they seem to be out of stock on it in most of their Canadian stores, including the Edmonton stores which are nearest me, so I couldn't inspect one.

A little searching turned up a new one in new unfired condition at "The Shootist" in Saint Albert, AB, which isn't too far away, and it's selling for about $100.00 less than retail, which is a good deal, I think. They have show photos of each gun, which is really nice, and it looks as advertised.

Some research on this rifle turned up a fair amount. It has a 1:66 inch twist which is perfect for round ball shooting, and the barrel is well-liked by some kit-gun suppliers because it is very accurate. Also, it's been around forever basically, and was originally sold by CVA (Connecticut Valley Arms) from around the late 1960s, and was very popular as either an assembled or kit gun in the 70s and 80s.

On You Tube "Hogsnplanes" had this great video on it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acM92lmgD48

So, I wonder, what do you think of this classic muzzleloader? Anybody ever own one?

In sober second thought, I don't know if I'll be buying any new guns for a while, since I've spent my gun allowance for a while. :d

But, for the price, it looks like it's worth a look if anybody is interested.
 
For my money I would look elsewhere. The Spanish make great barrels but the lock systems are hit and miss. A friend recently bought one new from a big box sporting goods store and the frizzen would not spark no matter how much the flint was played with. Took it back for refund which was fine and he's now looking at a used Trade gun for the same money and it sparks.
 
I've had a .50 cal Pedersoli for about 10 years. It has been a whole lot of fun, no issues at all. It never fails to make people grin from ear to ear when they fire it. It's very accurate as well.
 
Hi. My brother has owned a Traditions flintlock for just about ten years. His is a Hawkins. He has never had any problems with it. It shoots straight. The build quality is not as good as on my Pedersoli flintlocks, but it is okay. The firearm looks great and functions perfectly. I would recommend one without reservations. A great first gun. No idea how many thousands of balls have been down his. But quite a few.

Kevin
 
I've owned a traditions PA pellet Flintlock rifle for well over 5 years now and it has never failed me yet. Sparks reliably and ignites powder without much delay if any. I do however use agate "flints" instead of regular old flint.
 
If you can find a used and in good condition Pedersoli that would be first choice, second would be Lyman if any can be found, third is any of the other Italian made guns usually originating from Investarms. The Spanish arms are in my opinion and the opinion of many of my more learned friends to be bottom of the barrel stuff. Some were once marketed under the name Junkar which is I think very close to their proper label.

Additionally I can add that I have handled several of the rifle you are looking at and the overall quality isn't TERRIBLE, the inletting is sometimes a bit sloppy and on the flinters the lock geometry is usually funny. If you just want to get into traditional shooting it's an ok first step. You can do better for the same money with a bit more time put in snooping around. In any case it's great you're looking into this side of the hobby, you're guaranteed to have a good time!
 
Yup.

I wasn't expecting miracles with a rifle like this. But, it's a good entry-level gun, I think. And, compared to the 1K+ pricing of Pedersolis and other flinters out there, it is appealing.

The fit and finish looks surprisingly good for the price, though again not in the expensive Pedersoli league.

The fact that CVA sold so many of them over the years leads me to believe that it's a good solid and honest rifle.

In the video I linked, Hognsplanes got really, really good accuracy from his. So, it would make a decent hunter methinks.

I got thinking about a possible upgrade on such a rifle and discovered that Track of the Wolf in the USA markets a high quality drop-in RPL lock to replace the factory one.

That would increase the price overall, but it would pair a really accurate barrel with a really good lock.

Hmmm.... maybe I can squeeze a few bucks out of my budget after all.

:dancingbanana:
 
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I shouldered one of these while Cabelas did have them in stock .It seemed to be a fair deal for the money,looked pretty anyways .However it would have been a waste of money for me had I bought it as I could not bear down low enough to sight the rifle.I have talked to at least one other fellow who had the same issue.The drop is not enough for me or too short of pull . I would class myself as an average sized shooter a tad shy of 6 ft.I wouldn't suggest buying one unless you can get a chance to see how it fits you....
 
OK I have started looking for a cheap build kit for percussion black powder I am not afraid of working it to get it to work properly. so the question is where do you get one in Canada
 
Traditions flintlock was my fist muzzleloader, I would recommend starting with something better, it's hard to become good at shooting muzzleloaders when you are having misfires half the time. My traditions flintlock had a lock that would have been the right size on a pistol, its construction was crude. Can't complain about the barrel or touch hole.
 
Almost any of the makers can produce an accurate barrel. The real difference between a cheapo and a good one is in the quality of the lock, whether percussion or flint and that quality is 10X more important in flint - especially for a beginner. Good used flint rifles come up for sale fairly regularly here on CGN so I would keep the cash in my jeans and watch for a good deal on a better quality used gun. A quick way to check the quality of a lock is take it out of the stock and see whether it has a bridle supporting the tumbler: if not then stay away.
 
Jman91 said:
Traditions flintlock was my fist muzzleloader, I would recommend starting with something better, it's hard to become good at shooting muzzleloaders when you are having misfires half the time. My traditions flintlock had a lock that would have been the right size on a pistol, its construction was crude. Can't complain about the barrel or touch hole.
Click to expand...

The lock is small, as you say, and I think that it is indeed a pistol lock.
As such, you would have to use smaller-than-average pistol-sized flints with it, but I could get them.
Too large a flint would probably not align well with the frizzen and cause problems and misfires.


I shouldered this rifle at The Shootist and had no problems with sight alignment. The wrist is small, in keeping with the proportions of the small lock, but I found that it shouldered quite well for an authentically-styled Kentucky/Pennsylvania pattern rifle. Pennsylvania rifles weren't big and beefy like a Hawken anyway.

At $459.00 and unfired, it seems like a good deal, compared to $549.00 plus GST ($576.00). And, Cabela's is sold out out of these anyway.
Regretably, I just can't afford another gun right now. Old age and poverty...

It isn't the best flintlock out there, but where can you buy anything else new for that price?
 
My Traditions flintlock Kentucky rifle has been absolutely excellent for the money! It was my first BP and I still own and shoot it. Bought it many years ago from Cabelas and im pretty sure I payed around $400 for it.

I believe it makes a great starter flintlock for many reasons....

Its low cost, so if your new to BP and let the rust get to her, it wont be as disappointing as it happening to your $1200 Pedersoli.
Its got a rifled barrel that shoots VERY accurate.
Its EASY to supply. since its .50 cal and so common; balls and bullets, wads, ball starters, cleaning tips, flints, ram rods ETC are way more likely to be found at your local sportsman store than many other flintlocks.
Its got a replaceable touch hole. Which also allows the owner to purchase a 5mm hose barb and use water to easily clean out the barrel without worrying about the water damaging your stock or getting between your barrel and the stock.
The stock separates from the breech easily to allow cleaning and to prevent water from damaging the wood if you dont have the hose barb.

The fit and finish on the gun is on par with my Pedersoli, although the wood does seem to be soft and dents more easily than the harder high quality wood found in Pedersoli's.
The sights are good, but nothing fancy.
The cleaning rod works well, retains nicely, but once again nothing fancy.
The lock is nice, fit and finish is great and sparks every time.

Really after owning this rifle for 4+ years, my only complaint is that it doesnt come with a built in Patch box like the Pennsylvania model. Which is a feature I wouldve gladly paid extra dollars for.


(on a side note)
I was going to buy the Pennsylvania model first. BUT for some reason the man who designed the buttstock on those guns needs to be FIRED. Every model ive handled, and person ive witnessed handle one has all said the same thing. "the cheek weld on this thing is terrible" and it truely is, infact I find it so uncomfortable id rate the gun as un shootable lol. For the Pennsylvania model that is...... The Kentucky is just fine.
 
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Do not get a traditions flintlock. They are inaccurate and they slap your face every time you touch it off from the slight recoil if it is 50cal. After you get hit up side of the head 5 or six times from the recoil, it begins to hurt. I know I had one and got rid of it. I could not make that gun shoot and the guy I traded a cap lock for could not get it to shoot ether. The gun is garbage. Get yourself a Lyman 54 caliber flintlock kit from Track of the Wolf. I have one of these, they are basically a sand, finish, and assemble rifle. No cutting out the lock and trigger receptacles in the stock, its already done for you. Mine is very nice, and it is just as accurate with round ball as a modern day firearm at 100 meters. They are somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 us or so. No trouble with shipping to Canada, as flint lock rifles are not considered a firearm by US state department ITAR laws.
The previous poster has nothing but praise for this rifle. I have no doubt that his experience is just and true however mine was a totally different ball game. I have been shooting muzzle loaders for 10 years, your mileage may vary.
 
eaglesnester said:
Do not get a traditions flintlock. They are inaccurate and they slap your face every time you touch it off from the slight recoil if it is 50cal. After you get hit up side of the head 5 or six times from the recoil, it begins to hurt. I know I had one and got rid of it. I could not make that gun shoot and the guy I traded a cap lock for could not get it to shoot ether. The gun is garbage. Get yourself a Lyman 54 caliber flintlock kit from Track of the Wolf. I have one of these, they are basically a sand, finish, and assemble rifle. No cutting out the lock and trigger receptacles in the stock, its already done for you. Mine is very nice, and it is just as accurate with round ball as a modern day firearm at 100 meters. They are somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 us or so. No trouble with shipping to Canada, as flint lock rifles are not considered a firearm by US state department ITAR laws.
The previous poster has nothing but praise for this rifle. I have no doubt that his experience is just and true however mine was a totally different ball game. I have been shooting muzzle loaders for 10 years, your mileage may vary.
Click to expand...

Funny, but Hogsnplanes here in his video demonstrated that it's a very accurate rifle and pretty good for the money. He has a lot of videos about his other black powder guns that he has bought and tested as well.

I haven't owned flintlocks but I have owned my share of caplocks, since I bought my first Remington 1858 revolver in 1972, so I can evaluate a traditional black powder gun pretty well before I buy it. With over 40 years of buying and shooting guns, I know that I know of which I speak.

I think that it's a pretty good rifle, though not in the Pedersoli class. And I doubt that the Track of the Wolf gun kit builders would like it much, but that I think, is somewhat elitist and subjective.

Also, I owned one of the Lyman Great Plains Cap lock Rifle kit guns. Sorry, but it did NOT simply assemble by sanding, assembling, and finishing. It should have, but parts were ill-fitted, and compared to a CVA Italian kit rifle that I once made, it was a lot more work to complete it, and I am a woodworker and have a lot of hands-on-with-tools experience.

Anyway, watch the video and decide for yourself. The lock seems pretty reliable and the accuracy is excellent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acM92lmgD48
 
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