I won't say I left this file mark here and that one there, but I knew some were there and didn't get too fussy on the finish. Knew I was going to age it a bit and liked the character that stuff added, particularly on a rifle I plan on keeping for myself. The area around the tang, throat and back of the lock panels I do need to work on when I do the next one, trying to figure out the drop, castoff angle and tang bend got the better of me this time.
Taylor I used LMF stains, the wood doesn't have a very strong curl and it dies out to nothing halfway up the butt section. Piece I picked up for a steal and needed to use, and for some reason the super tight curly stuff isn't always a priority for me.
Rob the eagle is mine. I looked at lots of originals and like to keep to the theme, they all pretty much used an eagle, shield, arrows and leaves in talons, etc. but I like to have it be my version of it. When I draw that design that's how it comes out. In a hundred years maybe people will look at my guns and say "that's a Ciekot gun, that's his eagle". Good or bad, I think I'd rather have that than hear "that's a guy copying XXX maker." Just my preference. Next one on the bench is a MD gun, the eagle on that will probaly look very similar.
