Ken,
You did a beautiful job. I haven't found even the antique Soddy-Daisy rifles attractive, but you changed my perspective a little bit, or a lot. The brass on the lock is the only thing I don't like, both because I think it is too much and because there is no other brass on the rifle (that I can see). The engraving on the lock, however, is extremely tasteful. Otherwise, not only is the workmanship good, it is, in combination with the finish on metal and wood, kept to a level that is appropriate to the style of rifle. I sometimes get tired of seeing Tennessee and Barn (and many other) rifles with exhibition grade stocks and metal finished to standards more suited to the British nobility than the backwoods. That is the sign of a true craftsman, in my opinion: knowing when to stop. Your rifle is nice now, but it will look even better after it has been used for a while. I want to use that lock for a little more traditional Kentucky that I have in mind as my first flintlock (or serious build), so seeing your work has been extremely inspiring to me.
