[hushnel]

I haven’t built a rifle in a while, the last one has undergone changes for hunting and it was percussion. I have been working for too many years on a ground up early Lancaster style flint lock but I have been looking at the Isaac Haines 1770 Lancaster longrifle kit offered by Track of the Wolf, I would build this with Iron hardware, my barrel choices for this kit are the Colerain $179.00 in .45 cal. and the Rice Barrel Company $245.00, in .45 cal.

I even thought about building their Southern Mountain, also in iron, not a whole lot of difference between these two as far as parts and cost go except that the Rice Barrel is not listed as an option, though I’m not sure if the upgrade would be worth it.
I’ll mostly use this for targets but I wouldn’t want to rule out the option of hunting with it.

Are there any other kits you think would be better or that I should at least look at, I’ve always liked Track of the Wolf, they seem like good people and I’ve never had a problem with the stuff I’ve ordered from them.

Once I've decided I can start leaving the figures and papers laying around so my dear wife will get the idea of surprising me with it for Christmas.

She has already started pushing me for more information, like "what kit are you thinking about honey", and "would the Isaac Haines work with our era of interpretation" :)

I'll know she ordered it when all of a sudden it's "No you don't need anymore rifles" ain't it great being married for 25 years to the same woman, you can almost start to figure them out :)


Isaac Haines 1770 Lancaster
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(jtrsqm55x2zlnuajcprwcw45))/imgPart/isaac-haines-parts-list-fully-shaped-left_1.jpg

Southern Mountain
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(jtrsqm55x2zlnuajcprwcw45))/imgPart/southern-mountain-left-hand-flint-parts-list_1.jpg

[BlackNet]

I am in the process of building a southern mouthain rifle myself. It's a fun project and I refer to it as my 'ship in a bottle'

[Mike OTDP]

I'd look at the kits put out by Dunlap Custom Woodcrafts. Try http://www.dunlapwoodcrafts.com/ihsets.htm

[mykeal]

Take a strong look at Jim Chambers kits: http://www.flintlocks.com/ They have an excellent reputation. Also worthy of consideration are Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading: http://www.avsia.com/tvm/ and Sitting Fox: http://www.sittingfoxmuzzleloaders.com/intro.html

[hushnel]

Thanks Mike, I checked out Dunlap Custom Woodcrafts. They only offer left handed with the "C" barrel. Since I'm looking to build a .45 it would be the heavier barrel, I don't want to get into .50 or .54. to lighten it up. Though the Getz barrel has a good reputation.

[hushnel]

Thanks Mykeal, I've considered the Jim Chambers kit.