Well now that is/was a beauty of an SMR, love the tiger stripe and stain.
I built a Kibler SMR just to build one in .45 but never liked crescent butt stocks and hand grip trigger guards, so it got sold off right quick.
I know too well the bull/sell syndrome - guilty on all accounts and 11 Kibler kits done and gone to date!
I'm left now with just a simple plain Jane Kibler 16ga fowler as my sole firelock and in the process of working on a Pede Bess kit. I'm really intrigued with the forthcoming Kibler Bess and may just get that as my final firelock hurrah,
Thank you, Rob! I appreciate that.
I can totally see what you mean about the crescent butt plate-- it IS a different beast and requires a bladed stance that feels more than a little awkward.
11 Kibler kits, eh? You've been a busy boy! You must be some kind of masochist or glutton for punishment.
Glad to know I'm not the only one afflicted with GASS (Gun Acquisition/Selling Syndrome). Maybe you can sit Kev down and help him understand it's far more common than he thinks. The way he talks sometimes, you'd think I ought to feel ashamed-- like I've been a very naughty boy. 😄
I'm right there with you-- I'm eagerly awaiting the Kibler Brown Bess as well, and I have no doubt Jim is going to absolutely knock it out of the park. The Pedersoli Bess carbine was one of my first flintlocks and, honestly, it was a blast to shoot. I refinished the stock, defarbed the barrel and lock, and eventually sold it for a tidy profit. Still, I could never quite make peace with the steady criticism over how much it strayed from the original. If I'm going to own a reproduction, by golly, it ought to be a faithful one; I don't want to give the stitch-counters and authenticity police out there reasons to poo-poo my gear.
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