Community & Classes
Supporting the Muzzleloading Community
Kibler's Longrifles is proud to be part of a community that keeps traditional muzzleloading craftsmanship alive. This page is where we'll share upcoming classes, workshops, and events from instructors and organizations across the muzzleloading world — whether or not they're built around our kits. If you know of a class or community event that belongs here, let us know.
Classes & Workshops
Kibler Kit Workshop with Gary Ludwig
Southern Ohio Artisan Workshops
Log Cabin Sport Shop, Lodi, Ohio
2026 Dates
- February 15–20: 6-day workshop — filled
- September 19–24: 6-day workshop — $725
- October 19–23: Hawken kit only, 5-day workshop — $625
2027 Dates
- February 14–19, 2027: 6-day workshop, all Kibler Rifle or Fowler kits — $725
- August 22–27, 2027: 6-day workshop, all Kibler Rifle or Fowler kits — $725
Beginners are welcome! The class fee includes your materials fee (tools and rifle kit not included). Gary Ludwig has been building muzzleloaders since 2013 and has trained under Hershel and John House, Jim Kibler, Ken Gahagan, and Ian Pratt. He teaches this hands-on class covering proper kit construction, wood and metal finishing techniques, hand tool use, lock and set trigger assembly, and personal customization touches.
Kibler Workshop at NMLRA — Pre-KiblerFest
October 3–8, 2026
National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Friendship, Indiana
Gary Ludwig will lead a Kibler kit workshop at the NMLRA range in the days leading up to KiblerFest (October 9–11). Details and registration are coming soon — for updates, contact Gary at soaw69325@gmail.com.
Woodbury School Classes
The Hershel House Woodbury School Foundation
Hershel's homestead, Woodbury, Kentucky
The foundation we support with every Barn Gun sold teaches hands-on classes at Hershel's homestead, using his coal forges. Here is what is on the schedule:
2027 Classes
-
Split Wood Basket Class with Anna Greinetz and Abraham Bear
April 8 to 11, 2027. $650. Limited to 6 students. Materials included. Register by March 26. -
Forging a Woodbury Knife Workshop with Daniel Casey
April 9 to 11, 2027. $500, includes daily lunch. Register by March 23. -
Woodbury Kibler Kit Workshop with Gary Ludwig
May 17 to 22, 2027. $900 for instruction. Build any one of our rifle or fowler kits (not the Brown Bess). Kit and tools purchased separately. Limited to 10 students. Register by April 30. -
Foxfire Rifle Workshop with Ian Pratt and Gary Ludwig
July 11 to 17, 2027. $1,000. Sold out. (Ian Pratt is the smith who hand-forged the trigger-guard pattern for our Barn Gun.) -
Woodbury Kibler Kit Workshop with Gary Ludwig
September 20 to 25, 2027. $900 for instruction. Same format as the May workshop. Register by September 3. -
Forging a Woodbury Knife Workshop
October 1 to 3, 2027. $500, includes daily lunch. Register by September 21.
Class gift cards are available starting at $300. Questions? Contact the foundation at Hershel.c.house@gmail.com.
See all Woodbury classes and register →
Kibler Heritage Raffle
The Hershel House Woodbury School Foundation is running a fundraising raffle, and we're proud to have donated a $1,400 gift certificate toward the grand prize. Every dollar raised goes to the foundation's work keeping traditional American craftsmanship alive.
The Grand Prize ($3,000 value):
- A $1,400 Kibler's Longrifles gift certificate, good toward the winner's choice of a kit and options
- Tuition for the Woodbury Kibler Kit Workshop with Gary Ludwig, May 17 to 22, 2027
- Five nights of lodging during the class
Tickets: $10 each
Last day to buy: December 16, 2026
Drawing: December 23, 2026, 6:00 p.m. at Hershel's homeplace
Kentucky Charitable Gaming license #0002960
Not in it for the raffle? You can support the Hershel House Woodbury School Foundation directly right here on our site.
Community Events
KiblerFest 2026
October 9–11, 2026
National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Friendship, Indiana
KiblerFest is a community-run gathering — organized by fellow enthusiasts, not by us — and we're proud to help support it. Any traditional-style muzzleloader, of any maker, is welcome. Come take part in a woodswalk, primitive range, Seneca run/walk range, and turkey shoot, and enter the raffle for a Jim Kibler longrifle kit we've donated. We plan to be there for one of the days ourselves. For more information, email rangerzdral@yahoo.com, or follow the conversation on the Muzzleloading Forum.
CLA 30th Annual Show & Meeting
August 13–15, 2026
Central Bank Center, Lexington, Kentucky
The Contemporary Longrifle Association's annual show is the biggest gathering of the year for makers and admirers of traditional American arms and accoutrements — rifles, knives, bags, horns, and engraving, all under one roof. It's a members-only show, but you can join at the door for a prorated fee, and it's well worth the trip to see the best contemporary work in the country.
NMLRA Fall National Championship
September 12–20, 2026
Friendship, Indiana
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association's fall national is nine days of matches, classes, lectures, demonstrations, and vendors at the NMLRA range in Friendship. Whether you shoot competitively or just want to walk the commercial row and be among fellow muzzleloaders, it's the heart of the traditional shooting community. (The spring national runs each June.)
Check back here for more classes and community events as they're announced.