Some thoughts about wood and suppliers... I can't say this with absolute certainty, but I believe air dried wood carves better than kiln dried stuff. The process used by Freddie Harrison and now his son-in-law is a very gentle drying process more akin to air drying than a standard kiln drying process. I've carved many blanks from Dunlaps. Some have been okay, others have been down right miserable. I prefer air dried wood, but will probably use kiln dried stuff now and then.
The wood that was cut by Freddie Harrison is some of the best that can be found. In any case it's preferable to sort through the wood yourself, if possible, in order to find exactly what you want. Prices of Freddie's wood have gone up, but it's the best, so they can get away with it. There's really no competitive supplier that offers what they do.
Red maple can carve okay. A really soft piece, probably wouldn't be a good choice, though. When you gain more experience and skill, the differences between wood and how it works will be more obvious.
Curl can be great, but it's not required to make a good looking gun. I suggest those starting out or acquiring skills, to consider plainer wood. It will work easier and cost less.
Jim
