A rifle build for my Grand daughter

[LAGS]

I decided to build my gran daughter a Kentucky rifle because she was born in Kentucky.
She is only 5 years old , but loves watching me build Custom Rifles.
I was given a Traditions , 50 cal Kentucky Percussion Rifle Kit , when one of my friends passed away a few years back.
I plan to custom build and downsize this rifle to fit her better as she gets older.
But it is a rifle she can keep to remember me the rest of her life .
And show others what kind of work I did.
I will be doing some posts as I build the rifle and dress it up for her.
I do plan to also make it a Hybrid so she can eventually choose if she likes a Percussion or Flintlock style once I teach her to shoot.
This project will take some time because I want to have her over as I do a lot of the work.
I will love opinions and suggestions about the build from you guys.

[Barry54]

Involve the child in the decision making process. Offer a few choices of colors for wood stain or finishes. Practice on some test lumber.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Great idea and project, LAGS, with just one observation. If you cut down the barrel and stock to fit her when she's a kid it probably won't work for her when she's an adult. Then maybe Granpa won't be around to re-customize it, and anyway it's hard to lengthen barrels and stocks without them looking funny. So, personally, I'd wait until she's mostly grown before giving it to her, and customize it for her grown or almost grown size. Youth rifles are usually just that, and one size doesn't fit all. I bought my daughter a Marlin 15Y .22 when she was a kid, and it was much too small for her as an adult. However, it got passed along to one of her daughters-- also now grown, so it's seeing a lot of closet time.

DG

[Half Dog]

I can’t offer an opinion but I travel to the Phoenix area and I would be happy to share what I have.

[K43]

.
Nice project and sounds like lots of fun if she is with you for the work!
Watch out if you're very traditional about stains etc.; a 5 year old girl may want a pink stock with Hello Kitty stickers
Not saying BTDT, but BTDT.

[LAGS]

I know she is not of age or size to really start shooting.
But I will reduce the size so as she gets older she can eventually shoot it for several years.
I don’t think she is going to be that tall of an adult. But the rifle will still be of size to still let her shoot it.
But the main thing is to add to her memories. Some about what I built, and a marker for the state where she was born.
She will probably pick the type of finish she wants on the stock from looking at the other rifles that I built already.
Her favorite animal is a Giraffe.
So I plan to put in some Brass inlays of Giraffes to dress up the stock and show it as Hers.
This type of rifle is also a type of memory that she can use as a Wall Display for the rest of her life .

[Winger Ed.]

Letting her take part in the build is great.
In the years to come, instead of "My Grandpa gave me this", it'll be "My Grandpa and I built this".

[LAGS]

The funny thing is.
I told my friends Widow when she gave me my friends rifle kit that he didn’t build, that I was going to build it with some indication it came from him.
He was originally from South Africa.
I told his widow that I was going to install brass inlays of African Animals in his memory.
So doing the Giraffe inlays fall right into something I had told her.
So I am in a way , building a rifle with his memories on it . And it will probably be around till the time I die too

[armoredman]

Here we go! As requested, one of the best defended little girls in Arizona.

[dondiego]

I would defend her with my life!

[LAGS]

I call her “ Maggie Monster”
But she is very smart, and loves seeing what I build or when she is over, watches me do my work.

[Sandro_ventania]

fantastic, Lags!! I would suggest a .32 caliber so the granddaughter can enjoy the rifle as soon as possible. But I already realized that this kit is special for several reasons! Good luck and share your work with us!

[LAGS]

I am going to have to look into the .32 Pedersolli “ Cub “ kit that I have and see if that lighter barrel can be fitted to this Kentucky Rifle stock and shortened up a bunch to work better for her.
I would just build the “Cub” for her , but a lot of the reasons I am building the Kentucky model won’t be incorporated in this build.
But if she gets super excited about this build , then I may build other rifles or Pistols for her.

[LAGS]

This may sound stupid.
But one of the reasons I like making this rifle for her is. The Kentucky Rifle has a full stock. ,but it is actually two piece. So if I cut this barrel and stock shorter.
Then if I ever want to install a longer barrel on this gun, then all I do is replace the barrel and stock forend piece.

[K43]

Makes sense.

[Sasquatch-1]

She is adorable. What is her trigger pull, about six or seven inches.

[LAGS]

Yes Sasquatch
But the point of building the rifle at this age , is not for her to go shooting it.
I can build her a little rifle that she would be able to shoulder at this age because it is in the BP lack of restrictions.
But I will let her watch me fire it so she will know it is not just a Wall Hanger.
But for the truth of the whole situation.
I may not still be alive when she grows up to a size for her to be shooting

[LAGS]

Another thing I may have her watch me doing to the rifle stock is Lichtenberg Wood Burning.
I showed he mother how to do that also. , and she loves doing that kind of Art.
Maybe her mom can add some of the details to the rifle as the Monster watches.

[K43]

Yes Sasquatch
But the point of building the rifle at this age , is not for her to go shooting it.
I can build her a little rifle that she would be able to shoulder at this age because it is in the BP lack of restrictions.
But I will let her watch me fire it so she will know it is not just a Wall Hanger.
But for the truth of the whole situation.
I may not still be alive when she grows up to a size for her to be shooting

In another 3 or 4 years she will be able to shoot it from a rest. Most of us that lived in rural areas started shooting with .22s at 8 to 10 years old.

[country gent]

Let her do some of thew "work" on it it will make it even more personal to her Not only to see it but to have Grandpas Hands guiding her thru it.