Flintlocks are a classic piece of Americana. They were the primary tools used by all sides of every North American conflict for approximately two hundred years, not to mention their usefulness in providing food for families across the frontier. As a historical interpreter, I have often been exposed to criticism for not having a flintlock; a product of (1) beginning this hobby at a Boy Scout camp where staff could not carry one outside of a certified range, and (2) being a cash-poor college student without the money to get into flintlocks the right way.
In assembling a Jim Kibler* flintlock kit, I have taken a tremendous step in investing real time and money into this passion. More importantly, I have taken a very important leap towards pursuing true historical accuracy with the highest quality materials. Though not everything I do is perfect (clothing, accessories, etc.) I was honored to pursue this build around the best flintlock builders in the world, such as Wallace Gusler, the Gunsmith of Williamsburg and instructor of my Kibler Kit assembly class.
Working under Wallace’s tutelage was a tremendously educational experience, and quite frankly, an honor. I highly recommend the NMLRA Gunsmithing Seminar, which is held during the first week in June at Western Kentucky University. In this video, I guide my viewers through my journey in firearms as a historical interpreter and hobbyist up to this point. I cover my discovery, enrollment, and journey to the NMLRA WKU Seminar, and discuss the events of each day in detail, including a picnic at the home of Hershel House and various opportunities to see artifacts and meet collectors. I also relate my experiences at the NMLRA Spring Shoot, a muzzleloading fair that takes place every year immediately after the seminar, and share photos and videos of my flintlock’s finishing process that I completed at home. I conclude the video by talking about how impactful this experience was, and how it has shaped my values in and out of the historical field.
Video Chapters:
---Coming Soon---
Finally, I feel the need to address the audio quality in this video, especially because it is primarily a video of me speaking. I filmed this video during a brief trip home from college without a proper mic. The background noise of the once-in-seventeen-years Brood X cicada population was deafening. I was under the impression that I could perform a little audio wizardry to mitigate the problem, but unfortunately, I was not able to. I had professional help in editing the audio to the point that it is now, and although my voice is muffled slightly, it is a considerable upgrade from the original drone of the bugs.
Links Referenced In This Video:
Next Year’s (June 2022) NMLRA WKU Seminar:
[ Ссылка ]
Kibler’s Longrifles:
[ Ссылка ]
Wallace Gusler Story by Gary Brumfield:
[ Ссылка ]
Hershel House Longrifles on Facebook:
[ Ссылка ]
The Gunsmith of Williamsburg with Wallace Gusler:
[ Ссылка ]
Simeon England's Website:
[ Ссылка ]
*No paid promotion. My loyalty and enthusiasm towards Kibler’s Longrifles is a direct result of the spectacular experience I had working with Jim and his products.
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