Went to Jim Gordon's museum

[Roger B]

Went last weekend while I was in the Taos area & took a side trip to Glorieta.  Mr.
Gordon was very accomodating & allowed me to take all the pictures I wanted.  The place is great because the firearms are not behind glass & can be handled (with permission).  I got to shoulder Ruxton's rifle as well as Tom Tobin's & Mario Modina's Hawkens.  That brings history home in a big hurry.  The Ruxton rifle is interesting in it's "buckhorn" express sights & "patched" buttstock to apparently accomodate a crescent buttplate.  Also has a multigroove barrel.  Ruxton was apparently about my size (5'9") as the rifle fit me well.  Many of the other rifles he has on display are in his book.  I wonder about one of the Leman's, though.  Another thing is that most of the Lemans did no have crowned muzzles.  Was that common?
Roger B.

[debnal]

I have been there also. I highly recommend a visit to anyone who can get there. Jim is a great guy and everyhting is available to be fondled. A rare type of museum. Has something for everyone.
Al

[Sean]

Roger,

Great place, ain't it.

Sean

[mr. no gold]

Jim's museum is everything that has been written here, and more. Just as impressive are all of the Buck Roger's ray guns, the Daisy BB guns and, well, you name it: it's there.
Roger, while you were there in Santa Fe, I hope that you took the opportunity to go to the Masonic Hall to see Kit Carson's last Hawken Rifle. It is nearly new, and is unbelievable.
The Lodge Master is very pleased to show it, providing he has enough lead time. And, it too can be held and admired; no drooling though.
Dick

[Roger B]

I wish I had had the time to see the Carson rifle.  Maybe next time.  A few years back a former curator of the Cody Museum took me to their vaults & let my boy & I see/hold the liver eater's Hawken & a few other guns including the famous "Hawken(s)" pistol from John Baird's original book.   It's a really good thing that these rifles belong to someone else because I would be tempted to shoot any of them that were shootable. 
Roger B.

[John Archer]

I wonder about one of the Leman's, though.  Another thing is that most of the Lemans did no have crowned muzzles.  Was that common?
Roger B.

Very common for Leman and Hawken rifles. All of the images of originals that I have seen have no crowns.

John.