A COVID-19 Project

As far as the COVID-19 pandemic is concerned, I can’t find much good to say about it. One thing I can say, though; I had a lot of idle time on my hands. After perusing YouTube videos during this time of lockdown, I came across a company that makes rifle kits – Kibler’s Long Rifles.

- Bob Glodt

The owner, Jim Kibler, has numerous, very instructive and detailed YouTube videos on how to assemble and finish one of the flintlock kits he offers for sale. I have built quite a few flintlock rifles over my lifetime; however, I have never found a kit that came anywhere close to the quality of those offered by Kibler. So I decided to order one of his Colonial rifle kits in .54 caliber, rather than sit around the house doing nothing or forcing myself to watch TV.

I’ll be honest, since this is an article about a roundball rifle and not a cartridge gun, I was reluctant to submit this to The Black Powder Cartridge News. But in my own defense, I suspect that many “News” readers have been involved with long rifles at one time or another. It makes sense to me anyway, because most of us who compete in this sport have an appreciation and fondness for the unique styling that can only be found in the old Sharps, Winchester, Ballard, and Rolling Block single-shot rifles. For me anyway, the historical connection I get from shooting the old black-powder cartridge rifles is just about as important as the competition aspect of the game. There is no question that the American long rifle is in good company as far as beauty and styling is concerned with the old single-shot black-powder cartridge guns.