First flintlock kit
- Thread starter stovepipe699
- Start date
As tiriaq said - good choice.
Don't know what your building skills are. Recommend you watch Jim K's videos. Also visit/join the American Longrifles (ALR) forum. Lots of very knowledgeable folks there who are more than happy to help a fella along. I have built several Kibler kits. The best kits on the market (along with Chambers) and the easiest to assemble.
My go-to source for flints is Stonewall Creek Outfitters in the US. A mom and pop operation and great folks to deal with. In my experience and even with the exchange and shipping, the cost is less than any Canadian sources I have come across.
Don't know what your building skills are. Recommend you watch Jim K's videos. Also visit/join the American Longrifles (ALR) forum. Lots of very knowledgeable folks there who are more than happy to help a fella along. I have built several Kibler kits. The best kits on the market (along with Chambers) and the easiest to assemble.
My go-to source for flints is Stonewall Creek Outfitters in the US. A mom and pop operation and great folks to deal with. In my experience and even with the exchange and shipping, the cost is less than any Canadian sources I have come across.
Everyone has told me to get a higher end flintlock and be done with it, so I did. I’ve watched videos of people shooting and they seem to have pretty good lock time.
I have watch 2 of kiblers videos so far, and will be watching all of them. As far as skills I have basic woodworking and metalworking skills, I think this will be a comfortable build for me. I almost bought a used colonial, but didn’t like the antique/patina finish the fellow did, so decided on the kit. I’ve been wanting to get into rust bluing anyway, to properly fix rust on other rifles. I’ll be checking out stonewall creek, thanks for the tip! What size flint should I get for my colonial?
As I recall, the Colonial takes a 3/4" x 7/8" flint, but recommend you confirm that on the Kibler website. I thought the instrutions that come with the kit give the flint size.
You will likely have difficulty finding a commercial rust browning/bluing in Canada and, in my experience, US supplirs will not ship it to Canada. If you can score a little nitric acid, and are willing to work with hazardous chemicals, you can make your own. I copied one ot the formulas in Bradford Angier's Firearms Bluing And Browning and ended up with a product that works better than any of the commercial products I have tried. I once did a side-by-side comparison of eight or ten commercial products.
Please keep us posted on your progress and enjoy the ride
You will likely have difficulty finding a commercial rust browning/bluing in Canada and, in my experience, US supplirs will not ship it to Canada. If you can score a little nitric acid, and are willing to work with hazardous chemicals, you can make your own. I copied one ot the formulas in Bradford Angier's Firearms Bluing And Browning and ended up with a product that works better than any of the commercial products I have tried. I once did a side-by-side comparison of eight or ten commercial products.
Please keep us posted on your progress and enjoy the ride
Things Military here in Calgary. He sells flintlocks and literally has buckets of flints. He ships as well…
I have Dangler browning solution coming with the rifle. Couldn’t get the aqua fortis, I ordered crystals from sculpture supply Canada. Pricey once you pay shipping $51.49 for 4 oz. Looks like same situation with the tried and true varnish oil, oh well.
Their flints are $5.00 each before tax and shipping ($24.95 for five) and, based on the pic, are crudely knapped. Compare to the ones available at Stonewall creek and do the math. The India made replicas are sub par - even when compared to the most cheaply made North American product.
I have Danglers, have used it and was pleased with the result. Fifty one fourty nine for the crystals sounds pricey. Purchased mine from The Science Company. Currently $13.95US for 100g (3.5 oz) but, by the time you add the shipping and convert to $C, there might not be a lot of difference. Four ounces will make a lot of product. I make a 1:5 solution by volume with distilled water. You can achieve a darker finish by applying tannic acid before the ferric nitrate. Can also do two applications and blushes with the ferric nitrate. Best to do a test application first. That can be done inside the barrel channel.
My go-to finish is now polymerized tung oil, which can be purchased from Lee Valley.
My go-to finish is now polymerized tung oil, which can be purchased from Lee Valley.
Here is a tip - if you use Prussian Blue for inletting then make sure to use much less than you think is needed. Like when you think “there is not enough on there”, it is likely too much. Ask me how I know. 
Oh yes, and just because you can’t see any on your fingers doesn’t mean there is none on your fingers.
Great product and good luck!
Oh yes, and just because you can’t see any on your fingers doesn’t mean there is none on your fingers.
Great product and good luck!
I’ve had and still own several Indian made Bess’s…all excellent shooters although admittedly a little crude in areas. I’ve also owned two of the much vaunted and expensive Pedersoli’s as well. One was ok at best and the other terrible…get a coin and flip it nowadays when it comes to quality.
It was the shipping that made it pricey, $25 to courier a $24 4 oz jar lol!
First timer for a flintlock or a muzzle loader?
Stay away from sawn flints, they are crap. Knapped flints are the only way to go. Get a bunch as they don't last as long as you think.
