Jim Chambers Flintlocks manufactures rifle and pistol kits that replicate 18th-century firearms with exacting precision. Every model is historically researched from original guns and built to authentic specifications—but with modern materials and workmanship standards.
| Model | Type | Caliber | Barrel | Weight |
|---|
| RK-1 | Early Lancaster Pennsylvania | 50/54 | 44" | 9 lbs |
| RK-2 | Early York Pennsylvania | 40/45/50 | 42" | 7.75 lbs |
| RK-3/RK-4 | Isaac Haines (Right/Left) | 50/54 | 38" | 7.75 lbs |
| RK-5 | Christians Spring (Edward Marshall) | 54/58 | 37" | 8.5 lbs |
| RK-6/RK-11 | Pennsylvania Fowler (Right/Left) | 20 ga | 46" | 6.75 lbs |
| RK-7 | Smooth Rifle | 20/50/54 ga | 46" | 7.25 lbs |
| RK-8 | Mark Silver Virginia Rifle | 58/62 | 42" | 8.5 lbs |
| RK-9 | New England Colonial Fowler | 10/11/12 ga | 46" | 8 lbs |
| RK-10 | English Fowler/Officers Fusil | 20 ga | 41" | 7.75 lbs |
| RK-12 | English Gentleman's Sporting | 50/54/58 | 31" | 7.75 lbs |
| RK-13 | Little Feller's Rifle | 40/45/50 | 34" | 7 lbs |
- •Barrels — Premium swamped (tapered and flared) barrels from Rice Rifle Barrels, supplied exclusively through Buckeye Barrels LLC (located in Jim Chambers' workshop). Barrels come with breech plug installed, tenons pre-cut, and front sight dovetails ready to go. Extra-long tang allows you to shape or shorten to preference.
- •Locks — Designed and produced by Jim Chambers himself from high-quality carbon steel. All locks are precision-assembled with heat-treated parts for reliability. Options include Golden Age Germanic, Colonial Virginia, Round-Face English, Deluxe Siler, and Large Siler Percussion locks.
- •Stocks — Northern curly maple with consistent figure throughout. Premium figured wood available at additional cost, or bring your own wood for a discount. Walnut and cherry also available. Most stocks can be ordered with optional sliding wood patchbox. Chambers maintains 50-70 stocks in inventory at all times.
- •Hardware — Soft yellow brass (easier to work than bronze) designed and manufactured exclusively for these rifles. Complete parts package includes all screws, pins, rivets, springs, and fasteners. Optional finishing kit available with stock stain, stock finish, and browning solution.
Assembly Level: Basic hand tools required—screwdrivers, small flat chisel, hand drill with bits, fine wood rasp, files, and sandpaper. No special machinery needed.
- •Lancaster Pennsylvania (RK-1) — Circa 1765-1775. High straight comb, slender wrist, wide-flat butt plate. Carried along the entire frontier before and during the Revolutionary War, then westward into Ohio, Kentucky, and south to the Carolinas. Choose 54 caliber for balanced hunting weight, or 50 for more heft for offhand target work.
- •York County (RK-2) — Circa 1770-1780. Slightly smaller than Lancaster—ideal for shooters of smaller stature. Long slim "Getz barrel" gives graceful lines. Frontiersmen like Davy Crockett carried York rifles. Extremely accurate in 40-45 caliber, excellent hunting rifle in 50.
- •Isaac Haines (RK-3/RK-4) — Circa 1770-1780. Made famous by Lancaster gunsmith Isaac Haines (recorded on tax rolls as gunsmith in 1772, worked into 1790s). Shorter 38" barrel makes it quick-handling for shots in heavy cover. 50 or 54 caliber holds its own at target ranges.
- •Christians Spring - Edward Marshall (RK-5) — Circa 1760-1770. Probably the earliest design offered. Based on a rifle supposedly owned by Edward Marshall (involved in the famous "Walking Purchase" of 1737). Shows early German mid-18th-century features. Made from precise measurements of the original 58-caliber rifle.
- •Pennsylvania Fowler (RK-6/RK-11) — Circa 1760-1770. Smoothbore versatility—load with shot for birds or round ball for deer-size game. At 50 yards, shooters with tightly-patched round balls consistently shoot 3-inch groups. Fast, easy loading for defensive use. Light, graceful 46" octagon-to-round barrel.
- •Smooth Rifle (RK-7) — Circa 1760-1770. Per George Shumway's Rifles of Colonial America, this is "English gun styling applied to American longrifle building." Originally made by John Newcomer in Lancaster. Features English smoothbore appearance with small cheek-piece and sliding wood patchbox. Excellent for smoothbore matches.
- •Virginia Rifle - Mark Silver (RK-8) — Circa 1750-1780. Derived from James River Basin original, possibly from 1740s and used by Morgan's Riflemen in the Revolution. Blends British and German styles—English long tang buttplate meets Germanic cheek piece and decorative finials. 42" barrel, large round-faced British export lock.
- •New England Colonial Fowler/Militia Musket (RK-9) — Circa 1740-1780. Used for hunting squirrel to moose and played significant role in French and Indian War and early American Revolution. Graceful blend of English and French architecture with long slim wrist and concave lower butt stock. Authentic folded sheet brass ramrod pipes included.
- •English Fowler/Officers Fusil (RK-10) — Circa 1750-1770. Copied from original made in 1762 by William Bennett, London gunmaker. Likely arrived with English officers during French and Indian War or Revolution. 20-gauge, 41" fully-round barrel with superb balance. Available walnut or cherry only (no curly maple). Can be enhanced with relief carving, engraving, or silver wire inlay.
- •English Gentleman's Sporting Rifle (RK-12) — Circa 1740-1750. Based on original by famous London gunmaker William Turvey. Early example of English full-stock sporting rifles incorporating Germanic sliding wooden patchbox and Germanic square toe, but with English hardware details (relief-chiseled wrist escutcheon, decorative flowing side plate, acorn finial guard). Short, light—ideal for thick-cover hunting. Hardware in steel or brass. English walnut only.
- •Little Feller's Rifle (RK-13) — Circa 1770-1790. New addition designed for smaller shooters (youth from age 7+, adults 5'7" or shorter). Based on Pennsylvania Berks County style with York Country influence. First in the Chambers line to use Deluxe Siler Flintlock. 34" custom swamped barrel in 40/45/50 caliber. 7 lbs in 45 caliber—light enough for all-day hunting without the weight.
- •American Flintlock Pistol (PK-1) — Circa 1775-1815. 13" swamped barrel (long, graceful, and legal for hunting in states permitting flintlock pistols). Stock architecture locks in a solid grip for serious target work. Long sight radius helps at distance. Available 50 or 54 caliber.
- •English Flintlock Pistol (PK-2) — Circa 1750-1790. Patterned after original mid-to-late 1700s English piece. 9" octagon-to-round barrel, available rifled or smooth bore. Stock wood options: curly maple, cherry, American walnut, or English walnut. Queen Ann lock with two small brass rings instead of side plate. 58 or 62 caliber rifled, 20 or 24 gauge smooth bore.
To help customers avoid the 11% federal excise tax on complete kits, Chambers partners with Buckeye Barrels LLC (located in his workshop). Order barrels separately:
Buckeye Barrels LLC
PO Box 248
3837 Walhalla Hwy
Six Mile, SC 29682
(828) 667-8361 (Tuesday-Friday 11 AM–6 PM)
[email protected]
www.BuckeyeBarrels.com
Buckeye Barrels is building inventory to reduce traditional long wait times. Both barrel and kit orders can be placed simultaneously.
In Stock Parts: Ship within 7-10 days Back Order Rifle Kits: 3-6 months delivery Back Order Locks: 8-12 weeks delivery
Accepts cash, check, money order, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and Visa. Phone orders Tuesday-Friday 11 AM to 6 PM.
- •Returns: 10-day return window on unsatisfactory items in unaltered condition. Only cost is return shipping. Inspect upon arrival and photograph any damage immediately.
Jim Chambers Flintlocks, Ltd.
PO Box 248
3837 Walhalla Hwy
Six Mile, SC 29682
(828) 667-8361 (Tuesday-Friday 11 AM–6 PM)
[email protected]