Had a great time at the show yesterday, I was surprised how may folk came up to me, introduced themselves and told me they followed my posts on the various M/L sites. I like to answer beginners questions complete with pictures, apparently a lot of people like these posts.
There were some amazing collections of original longrifles, usually they centered around one builders work. These men were amazing gun builders producing engraved and carved works of art.
And then there were the Kiblers; one vender had a huge display of every model kit that Kibler makes all completely assembled and finished to perfection. The new Hawken was spectacular as were the fowlers. I shouldered the new Hawken in .58, it fit me like a dream and balance perfectly. I found the same to be true of the fowlers in 20 and 16 ga, light and were point on as soon as I shouldered them.
If I was younger and didn't already have a gun safe full of longrifles and fowlers I would have to have one. Unfortunately old age has gotten the best of me and I don't hunt and shoot near as much as I once did so buying one wouldn't be a wise choice. None of my kids or grandkids have any interest in the rifles that I have built, they will probably end up in a yard sale some day, no need to add another one to the pile.
I have a friend from Huntsville who is somewhat addicted to putting these kits together, he has done 5 or 6 of the kits. He had a new Hawken that he had completed on his table yesterday, he had it priced at $2100, it sold quickly. There is a fairly long waiting list for the new Hawken kits from Kibler because it is so popular and has just come out, it is also their first percussion model, all of the other models are flint. These kits cost between $1300 $1800 depending on the wood upgrades (plain or fancy), patchbox and the German silver inlay additions.
