Kibler side effect?

Okay people it's KIBLER not KEEBLER....Geez spell the guys name right. Jim doesn't use Elves for employees because their to small to hold the guns up. Plus they get lost in the packing material... Lol

On the surface it seems easy to make a left handed rifle. Just switch sides with everything. Take the lockplate and switch sides with the springs and such then put the cock and frizzen on the other side. Oh wait…. The cock and frizzen would have be made opposite of the way they are made now, bent the other way so to speak. Then the Inletting machine would have to be programmed to cut the inlets the opposite directions. Yeah, it would be easy for Mr. Jim to make a lefty. (Posted with much sarcasm)

Yeah, but it's that left handed trigger and ramrod that's the fly in the ointment for Jim.

reddogge said:

Yeah, but it's that left handed trigger and ramrod that's the fly in the ointment for Jim.

Click to expand...

Don't forget the butt plate.

Just curious but how does the other companies make right an left handed kits...?
Also how did they or why did they make left handed guns in the 16 - 17 - 18 th centuries...? Obviously their was a demand of some shorts for them...!
Or maybe just omit the lock inlet and just run a bunch of SMR rifles an the lefties can in let their own lock..?
I can't wait till we get over a hundred pages on this...
Maybe we should start a Kibler cult worshipers group..?......LOL

TDM said:

Don't forget the butt plate.

Click to expand...

Or u need left handed sights too.

Johnny Too-Tall said:

Or u need left handed sights too.

Click to expand...

That's funny.

mikesto44 said:

Just curious but how does the other companies make right an left handed kits...?
Also how did they or why did they make left handed guns in the 16 - 17 - 18 th centuries...? Obviously their was a demand of some shorts for them...!
Or maybe just omit the lock inlet and just run a bunch of SMR rifles an the lefties can in let their own lock..?
I can't wait till we get over a hundred pages on this...
Maybe we should start a Kibler cult worshipers group..?......LOL

Click to expand...

Why other companies make left-handed kits? their development costs are considerably less than ours given our manufacturing methods. Also, we are very careful and a profit driven company ( i.e. a successful and sustainable company).

mikesto44 said:

So actually the lock mortice an do or don't put a check piece on...That is the problem... with a multi axis machine. Interesting predicament...

Click to expand...

You DO realize all that has to be PROGRAMMED in. Ugh. Make your own or go to Chambers and stop pestering him

James Kibler said:

Why other companies make left-handed kits? their development costs are considerably less than ours given our manufacturing methods. Also, we are very careful and a profit driven company ( i.e. a successful and sustainable company).

Click to expand...

You shouldn’t have to explain yourself. Yes other companies do make a left hand model. If they made a lot of them these winers would just buy one. Since they are here they were not able to find one. A majority of people shoot right handed and this is what drives the market.
There are a lot of places making a hawken but your fans are waiting for one of yours. And a smoothbore…

Just my humble opinion but I don't understand the hype. Muzzleloading rifles are about as simple as they come. And maybe it's just because I'm a manual machinist but heaven forbid if I ever take up cnc, I hope someone puts me out of my misery.

BeardedGunsmith said:

Just my humble opinion but I don't understand the hype. Muzzleloading rifles are about as simple as they come. And maybe it's just because I'm a manual machinist but heaven forbid if I ever take up cnc, I hope someone puts me out of my misery.

Click to expand...

They are simple in theory, but the actual execution can be fairly complex. It's not just a case of mirroring the directions for the CNC to spit out a left handed kit (if only it were that easy). Even if it were, you still have to make a new, mirrored lock which requires different molds than those in hand and is a substantial investment in time and resources....considering how some of the "big companies" do with locks, well, I'd rather have one done correctly if I were a lefty.

Psycho Mike thanks for your reply. Forgot all about Kibler making a new left hand lock to his perfection.
The CNC machines we used back in the day. Operated with multi heads an on a table with 360 degree movement.
But that new lock would be a large cost to make. But it would be the best one I'm sure..

Something useful that would be good from any semi-custom kit would be a stock with everything done except the lock inlet and vent drilled. Leave a square block on the panel section so any lock could be used the owner wanted.

mikesto44 said:

Okay people it's KIBLER not KEEBLER....Geez spell the guys name right. Jim doesn't use Elves for employees because their they're to too small to hold the guns up. Plus they get lost in the packing material... Lol

Click to expand...

Corrected spelling for ya!

because "they are too" small

Thanks Appowner for the correction . Should have proof read it before I hit post.

mikesto44 said:

Does anyone ever wonder WHY the " Other companies offer left hand kits...? If the percentage of customers are SO low...? It would be interesting to here their reasoning why they offer them...?
If it's not profitable why bother..? Just saying...

Click to expand...

Many possible reasons. Start by looking up the company profiles and history. How long have they been in business? Do they have parent companies who are into different things and can support the loss a left handed product might bring? Or do they have a parent company that can absorb the loss caused by the left hand guns? And how those left handed stocks come to life, how accurate are they, etc plays into it.

Or maybe they're already just stupid rich and for them it's a hobby. So break even is their goal.

mikesto44 said:

Thanks Appowner for the correction . Should have proof read it before I hit post.

Click to expand...

Having lived for 42 years now with an English major teacher, I have learned much better English.

James Kibler said:

Why other companies make left-handed kits? their development costs are considerably less than ours given our manufacturing methods. Also, we are very careful and a profit driven company ( i.e. a successful and sustainable company).

Click to expand...

Why do you argue with these people?

BeardedGunsmith said:

Just my humble opinion but I don't understand the hype. Muzzleloading rifles are about as simple as they come. And maybe it's just because I'm a manual machinist but heaven forbid if I ever take up cnc, I hope someone puts me out of my misery.

Click to expand...

Nothing is simple. Other kind of kit are made on a pantograph or whatever it’s called. Different bird. Not as precise. Cnc can reproduce results consistently.