Best traditional ML kits these days?

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mdauben

Looks similar to my old rifle, except mine had iron furniture (butt plate, trigger guard, nose cap). I wanted it to be more "authentic" so I used a hot browning finish on the metal parts. Put on several coats with a propane blow torch and an old rag to get an even finish. I was very happy with it in the end, and I still kick myself for selling it to pay for my books one semester for college.
Click to expand...

Yeah I wanted to give the barrel a brown finish but I couldn't find any locally and this was way before online shopping so I went with the cold blue. Turned out alright and still has that "old timey" look about it.
 
You don't really need stuff like Plum Brown. I used to treat my barrels with a weak acidic solution I bought from a wrought iron supply. It takes a couple of weeks to get a good finish but it is much more durable. The same finish can be turned black by boiling the piece in water for about 5 minutes between treatments. Research rust blueing for more details.
 
Jackrabbit1957

Thanks for the info! Just might get around to doing something like that on my Hawken one of these days.
 
Here's what I'm having a hard time with... I've settled on the st. Louis hawken ... so in looking for the best price I come across a discontinued CVA hawken for 189, whereas the traditions kit is selling for 289.

I feel like I'd rather spend 100 bucks less... but then it's like, well the whole idea was building a kit like I did years ago ... oh, internet! Thou art a cold and heartless .........
 
Take the CVA kit, I think the materials will be better. If it's new old stock be prepared to deal with some really hard wood.
 
Even so it's still worth it. Hell just the barrel and lock are worth that! I have an old CVA St Louis Hawken I restocked in mesquite. It's always been an excellent shooter.
 
At farm n fleet today I saw a few modern ML rifles packaged with all the possibles to get started shootin. Got me rethinking the whole situation.

What do you guys think of the modern ML rifles compared to traditional?

The itch started because I want to build a rifle with my boy. . But he's two now so it'll be a few years before that happens. Then I'm finding that rifle kits can cost more than a complete rifle in some cases. Then I see these modern rifles all put up in a blister pack ... and they're not as expensive as the kit I was considering either.



 
Do what you gotta do. I personally don't care for those zip guns. It's mostly the attitude that seems to go with them. I am sure they are a quality product and such, but the traditional guns are more appealing to me.
 
Sounds as if the OP is working with a budget in mind for his kit. That being the case, a Tradiitions kit from Cabela’s is going to be the best option. Midway also sells a variety of kits as well that fall into the category that he is seeking. A Traditions kit is fairly easy to assemble and you won’t feel so bad if you have a few faux pas along the way. Although it isn’t a fine custom rifle with beautiful wood, it is a serviceable rifle that you both can enjoy and take pride in.
 
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