I got a Traditions Kentucky Rifle kit for Christmas, along with a Deer Creek Hawken Pistol kit.

The rifle, as most of you probably know, has a two-piece stock with a thin brass spacer between the pieces. Doing a test fit, it became painfully obvious that the forend part was about 3/16" too short.[:@] Rather than send it back for a different kit, I went to Lowes, bought a poplar 2X2 and made a new spacer. Since I never liked the looks of having a brass line in the middle of the stock, I pitched it and made the spacer thick enough to bridge the gap.

I just finished the rifle last night. After staining and about 10 coats of TruOil, it wound up looking pretty nice. I've got two dark glue lines in the middle of my stock but they aren't nearly as obvious as a line of yellow brass.

I'd post some pics if I could find the cotton pickin' lead to hook up my camera to the 'puter. It hasn't been seen since my son reported for basic training, so I think he took it with him.

I just wondered whether or not the problem I ran into with this kit is the norm for Traditions kits.

By the way, the pistol went together with no problems at all, except the blotchy way the wood took stain. I reduced the amount of blotchiness on the rifle by using Minwax PreStain, but it still blotched up a bit.

I gotta get out and make some smoke now.

Well it sounds like a job well done.. It would be interesting to see pictures and how you made the adjustment.. Now go make some smoke...

those kentuckys are awesome shooters. I have a .50 flinter and love it. 110g FFFg and a .490 ball group amazingly well at 100 yards.

Oh, buddy! I know they're shooters, frontier gander. I made up a CVA version .45 cal about 30 yrs ago. It was a sweetie. Used to hang out on the dam at a erosion prevention lake and bust turtles in the creek below the dam with it. Within 75 yards, none of 'em were safe. Made mucho meat with it too.

Some goblin kicked my door in some 7 years later and stole it, along with an 1851 Navy, 1860 Army, 1858 Remington Army, Kentucky pistol, mountain pistol, TC Hawken, Springfield musket, Zouave Musket, (all replicas, of course) 20 ga Fox side by side and a Mini-14. I'd like to murder the thief over the Fox alone![:@] That was one of those once-in-a-lifetime shotguns that was always lined up perfect every time you shouldered it. But I never saw any of those guns again.[X(] And I never replaced any of them, until now.

Here's a few pics of the rifle and pistol. Just put the knife in there for the heckuvit.



The splice joining the two halves of the stock. It looks a lot worse under the camera's flash than it actually does.



And the pistol's close-up.



My rifleman's knife by Roger Clark. I had to show it off because it's one of the few real steals I've ever made. Found it in a shop for $40 because of the stain on the blade. A hand forged 11" damascus blade with stag handle for 40 bucks? I've still got a mark on by butt cheek from the friction of whipping my checkbook outta my pocket. I don't use it much because it's so big, but it's a great knife.

Very nice Arthur. I had a hard time finding the splice in the first picture, in fact I couldn't. Only after the close up did I find it and only because I was looking for it. I hope it shoots as good as it looks.

I think you did a great job on that rifle. It really looks good. The only thing I dislike about those rifles is the barrel is pinned. I was told you are not supposed to remove the stock for cleaning. But then a simple flush kit and you would be in business.. Very nice job again. I can not wait to see how it shoots for you.

As for the thing that broke into your home and decided to steal all your firearms in the past. I hope they are proud of their collection and take care of it. Trouble is they probably sold it for a few buck to purchase something else illegal. There is nothing worse then a thief.

Fantastic job Arthur. Much, muchbetter than a brass spacer. We'll be awaiting target pictures.

Yeah, the pinned barrel is a drawback. Hawkens are more practical in that regard and I will eventually be getting another. That's one reason I wish this was a .45 like my old one was. That's a more versatile caliber, I think. It's not way overkill for small game and varmints but has enough juice for closer shots on deer. Then I could get a .50 Hawken for a dedicated deer gun.

It'll be kinda hard to sell the idea to the Chief Procurement Mangager of the household that I need another rifle in the same caliber as what I've already got.

Very nice,both of them