Jim Kibler

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	Jim Kibler Hanoverton, Ohio



James Kibler was born March 20^th, 1975. He grew up in the small town of Hanoverton, Ohio and currently lives just outside of this small town. A professional Metallurgical Engineer, he studied at Ohio State and graduated in 1997. I ask Jim to write down for me his thoughts on his gunbuilding and his words follow. “I was first exposed to muzzleloading rifles from a percussion rifle bought by my dad when I was an early teen. This rifle was made by a gunsmith from Hanoverton named William Johnson. I always liked to build things and work with my hands, so when I noticed an old gun kit at my Grandparents, that had belonged to my uncle, I became interested. I put this gun together and my interests grew. My first real exposure to building these guns was the book "Foxfire 5". There was also a local collector and builder that gave me a bit of direction early on. I built a pistol from a blank with parts I got from Dixie Gunworks and shortly after this, I built a rifle from a blank. This was when I was sixteen or so. I continued building a few rifles until I went off to college. I was involved to some degree for a few years in college, but eventually I sort of drifted away from building. In the last several years I've become involved again. If I've had success, a lot of the credit should go to my parents. They always supported my interests and encouraged me to find my own path. My dad in particular was a huge influence to me. He was the local historian of our little town, had a great love for history and had a good eye for form, style and beauty. I think he passed on quite a bit to me. He's unfortunately not around anymore, having passed away in 1996 from leukemia. In recent times I've taken a few NMLRA Gunsmithing Courses at the Western Kentucky University Gunbuilding Seminar and consider these to have been fantastic experiences. In addition, the help of the Internet can't be underestimated. So much information is available to the builder. There are so many styles of guns I find appealing. I continually get the feeling that there are so many fantastic guns just waiting to be created. There really aren't any limits. I'm not really sure what direction I will go in. I plan on becoming involved in projects that inspire me and let these lead me.” Following are three rifles, each showing different aspects of Jim Kibler’s work. The first is a rifle that he brought to the W.K.U. seminar this year and I immediately fell in love with and just had to have. The second is his latest piece completed to present at the Contemporary Longrifle Association show in Lexington, Kentucky. And the third is a rifle built about a year ago somewhat as a tribute to his father.



Design of this rifle falls within what most would consider the “New School” style. Many of the carving elements are very similar to those sometimes used by John Bivins and were indeed inspired by his work. Jim had reservations about this piece since it was not totally inspired by existing schools of gunmaking, however, I feel this rifle is sort of like a modern arrangement of Handel’s Messiah, played on a piano instead of a harpsichord. It is just fantastic, but really not anything like any original rifle that you’ll ever find. I feel it was indeed Jim Kibler – stretching his wings – jumping out of the nest, not for the first time, but after a couple of test flights... but then deciding that this was fun and said to himself, hey... lets try a couple of “loop de’ loops” and then maybe an inverted back flip! Whoopee!!! And he did it GOOD !!! Yes, even complimenting my good friend John Bivins work, which he had also borrowed from motifs of another day. The carving on this piece is masterful. It flows remarkably well from the cheek piece, to the tang and continuing to the rear entry thimble. It is extremely well executed and tasteful. For those familiar with the work of the late John Bivins, this rifle does immediately make one think of John’s remarkable talent and designs, but Jim has not copied Bivins’ work, but rather built upon it and the work of the masters from long ago. John would simply love this rifle...and so do I. The exceptional stump cut sugar maple stock is from Freddie Harrison and is stained dark with aqua fortis and finished with linseed oil. All the hardware except lock and barrel were hand produced by Jim. The barrel is by the Rice brother and is 44 inches long and .54 caliber. The heart of the rifle is a well-tuned and modified Chambers early Ketland lock, which Jim casehardened.

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Jim is obviously intrigued by the work of George Schroyer and has somewhat borrowed his “Fleur-de-Lis” type designs both behind the tang and the rear entry. This is his latest piece, being finished only days before the 2007 “Contemporary Longrifle Show” in Lexington, Kentucky. This piece is loosely based on several of Schroyer’s rifles and one “Newcomer” rifle. Jim comments, “ I wanted to keep the rifle fairly conservative and not too elaborate. I tried to shape the stock to have strong bold architecture with carving that compliments it well.” He was very successfully with his artistic endeavor and the rifle was quickly snatched up by one of the premier collectors of contemporary firearms, Dr. Barry Maxfield. The barrel is by the Rice brothers - .54 caliber, 44 inches long. The lock is a Chambers early Ketland that has been altered, casehardened and well tuned. The touchhole is not lined, but rather direct drilled and internally coned, providing for a traditional yet very quick and reliable ignition. The stock has13 5/8” inches of pull and is fashioned from very hard and dense quarter sawn sugar maple stock from Dick Miller. It was finished primarily using scrapers and stained with aqua fortis. All components except barrel, lock and screws are handmade.

















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	The work of George Schroyer has an unmistakable appeal and has obviously influenced this young budding rifle maker to a large extent. This piece is similar to rifle number # 91 in Dr. George Shumway’s, “Rifles of Colonial America”, but with a bit more Berks County influence. There is a story behind "Hanover" being engraved on the patchbox lid. The town Jim is from, Hanoverton was originally named Hanover. Many of the old timers still call it Hanover. His father was the local historian and tried his best to get the name changed back. Jim father died in 1996 from leukemia, 46 years young. He told me, “My inscription is to show my appreciation for my little town and is tribute to my Dad.” This rifle was also offered for sale at the C.L.A. show and was bought by Mike Parish, another well-known collector of fine contemporary firearms and art.

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The work of Jim Kibler is crisp, clean and well executed. His skills are unique in the gunbuilding world. His attention to detail is remarkable and his carving and finishes rivals the old masters. His architectural style proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that a piece of curly maple is not needed to make a beautiful rifle. He sums up his philosophy pretty well when he told me, “I want to use somewhat creative designs that appeal to my eye but don't become too complex, don't deviate from these original makers work too awful much and have continuity throughout the piece.” I feel that at a very young age, he is already very successful in his mission.

Jim does not take commissions and I feel wisely so. The talent of Jim Kibler really shows because he’s building what's in his heart. This whole contemporary world is based primarily upon artistic ideas that others have had. Some ancient... some rather new... there are very few original ideas these days, although you know, Michalangelo stated that, "Art is an idea”. I feel that the difference between an artist and a craftsman is just that; if you take an order and build a piece to the specifications of the consignor, then you are indeed only a craftsman producing someone else’s vision…but if you build what is in your heart, mind and soul, then you can truly express YOUR artistic urges and indeed become an artist!

Don Getz said quite a mouth full when he made the comment; Jim Kibler’s work is the “best stuff to come down the pike in quite a while”. I totally agree with him!

Keep it up Jim, can’t wait to see what you produce next !

Mel Hankla, Kentucky