Kentucky Rifle Gift

[edmehlig]

My oldest grandson would like to get a percussion Kentucky Rifle for Christmas. He hasn’t decided on a kit or finished one yet.
Any suggestions besides the Traditions Kentucky Rifle?

 

[bronko220002]

How much do you want to spend?????
You know if I had another 20 years of hunting in me I'd get myself a custom flinter. One with a real good lock that ignites as fast as a caplock.

 

[edmehlig]

I know, but the kid wants a percussion.

 

[Duk]

Traditions makes a decent rifle for the money

 

[Ka'imiloa]

Does he really want a slim-stocked, long barrelled Kentucky rifle, or just a percussion ML of some kind? Narrow things down, perhaps by looking thru the offerings at Dixie Gunworks (online catalog) with him.
Want high-end and cost not an issue? Get the Pedersoli caplock "Kentucky" rifle. Notably, the Dixie "Pennsylvania rifle" is also made by Pedersoli and both have a fancy brass patchbox. Amazingly, the Pedesoli version is $100 cheaper than the Dixie version! A call to Dixie would explain all that.
The beauty of Dixie's catalog these many years is that it has really complete details on each gun, including twist rate and manufacturer.
Not traditional, but I'd go for the Pedersoli Kentucky rifle because it has a faster twist and is thus more versatile with round ball plus slug. Ditto for buying 50 cal. over .45 if hunting is planned. ( Apologies to traditionalists, we don't know what this boy really wants.)
I vote against a kit, unless you are skilled and will help your grandson make it. Many a Christmas-present kit has sat for years or decades, unmade.
Used and cheap, the old time CVA .50 MLs with set trigger aren't bad, and look somewhat like a Kentucky rifle. A set trigger -- as on the CVA or the rifles above -- properly adjusted, is a tremendous help to good shooting in the field, but can be dangerous unless well-practiced with at the range.
Aloha, Ka'imiloa

 

[edmehlig]

Thanks for the info!

 

[ElDiablo]

I’m looking at a kit for my son. Was just perusing the Dixie GW kit options. Not much to choose from.

 

[edmehlig]

Well< I took my grandson as he wanted to see and feel a Kentucy Rifle before he went out to buy a kit or order one. They had one, but it was in poor shape, but it was enough for him to hold, shoulder etc. He said he really didn't like it as much as he thought he would. So looking around at what Dixons had he came across two TC Hawken's, one was a 50 cal, t.he other was a 45. After going back and forth and back again, he finally decided on the 50 cal. The owner at Dixon's came over with a bore light and both barrels were PRESTINE. So if anyone is looking for a Percussion, 45 cal TC Hawkin, it 's still available when we left.

Ed

 

[Mtn.Ear]

I had looked and pondered on several kits for myself online when I came across the Kiblers. They are more money and the Woods Runner which I bought may be a little large for some youth but it would fit a teenager and would be a gun for a lifetime.
I'm speaking of flintlocks.

 

[bronko220002]

I haven't been to Dixons in a couple years. I'm going to have to take a trip there soon.
I'm getting the hankering for a long rifle in flintlock configuration.

 

[edmehlig]

I thought I would bring this up. While my grandson was purchasohis Hawken, I saw a bag hanging on the wall containing some material in it. I questioned him about it and was told it was different type rags/T-Shirts etc that people used to clean their ml with where the material got stuck with the ramrod and they came to him to remove the stuck ramrod.
He wishes guys would just use patches that were designed to clean ML’s.