Kit comparisons?

[Chasseur d'ours]

I am thinking about building two guns in the coming years: a German, flint rifle (1730-50s), and a French fusil fin.

I am wondering about feedback on possible kits for these two guns.

For the German rifle I've been looking at:
Pecatonica, Chambers (modifying the Marshal rifle), RE Davis, Dunlop, TOW and TVM.
I'd like something with a relatively short barrel, 54 or 58 caliber, walnut stock, swamped barrel, good lock.

For the fusil fin:
RE Davis and TOW ("C" model).

Any thoughts and recomendations on both easy of building, overall quality and accuracy.

Thanks!

 

[Mike Brooks]

I'd go with the marshal rifle in euro walnut and RE davis fusil Fin in euro walnut. The quality on these two are top notch.
The "C" guns as they are sold , are not historically accurate.

 

[Chasseur d'ours]

Mike,

Thanks for the advice.

I really liked what I've seen so far of Davis fusil kit. Any changes you'd do it?

 

I agree with Mike. You may want to look at their Yaeger rifle as well. R.E. Davis,I mean.

 

[Chasseur d'ours]

Cooner and Mike,

How do you guys rate the Chambers Marshal rifle vs. Davis jaeger?

THanks!

 

Weeell!!! If ya don't tell nobody, :redface: I think the Chambers locks are a tad better but the kits from both companies are real nice kits. I would put them on equal par. Both companies have treated me real good on customer service. Both will back there products.

 

[Mike Brooks]

I'm not familiar with the Davis Jeager.

 

Mike, it's the same one available through the Mold and Gun Shop. I can't remember the guys name that owns that shop. He makes a lot of stuff for R. E. Davis. I think he lives down around Lancaster,Ohio? :hmm:

 

[Stophel]

I don't think anyone makes a passable German rifle precarve stock. The Chambers "Marshall" one would be your best bet.

You might check with The Rifle Shoppe. I think it's Bob Lepley that makes the precarve stocks for their gun sets, and supposedly he patterns them directly from the guns that the hardware came off of. I have no experience with them though, but perhaps worth checking into.

 

[rich pierce]

Kit-itis.
I think that at a certain level of interest, it would be more fulfilling to do some research and put together a parts set and work from a blank, perhaps inletted for barrel and with ramrod channel cut and ramrod hole drilled.

 

[tg]

I would go with the Davis Fusil Fin and forget about the alphabet...this is probably the best French gun kit around, the lock may need a little help but nothing major.