More information on John Bivins - The Art of the Firelock

[Dennis Glazener]

Thanks to ALR member Robert T Adams for posting, in the Tutorial forum, his research on the "Final Disposition of John Bivins Papers". To read this post go to the link below.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=3569.0

Mr. Adams also posted information on the "John Bivins Papers" that are on display at the The Winterthur Library located in Winterthur, DE. To view that post please see the link below.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=3571.0

I would like to thank Mr. Adams for sharing his research work with the ALR membership.

Dennis Glazener
ALR Admin

[PINYONE]

I read this Posting that Dennis put on here about Jon Bivin's  work. I can understand Ann having concerns of his work being properly published. On the other hand I disagree with the whole process of having it updated by anyone. This work was done before he ever met Ann. My reasoning is, while staying at John's home in Old Salem one night we were talking about Art of the Firelock. John was not having any bouts with ole timers at all , this was in 1985. He told me to call Shumway and ask why it wasn't published, that it was complete and he couldn't understand why it wasn't. After that I kept waiting. If any one of you ever knew John other than when he was sick he never did anything that needed rewriting. Personally I would like to have the original works as he did it, because that is the way he intended it to be, don't you think if it wasn't right back then he could have gotten Mark Silver to re write it. I now think we have to wait on Mark whenever time permitting to do this. Then thinking why not re -write Kindig's book and and all others from the earlier time period. Then we could redo all publications back to the Bible. My view- The Great Pinyone

[Blacksmoke]

I had the privilege to know John Bivins for a brief period back in the late seventies. I even spent several, precious, hours with him in his shop in Old Salem. Subsequently I collected all of his articles that were published in the Rifle magazine and put them in a folder for reference.  The man was an excellent author and teacher!! I agree entirely with Pinyone-- I would love to see Bivin's "Art of The Firelock" published just as he wrote it!  I would be among the first to purchase it!  For the life of me I cannot see why it would need to be tampered with or brought up to date. Just publish it the way John wrote it!! We owe at least that much to him!!   Just my opinion,   Hugh Toenjes

[PINYONE]

Hughe, I am glad to see that I am not the only one here that sees this the way I do- I feel a person who has your talent as a gunsmith should know. I just feel how many of us are going to go to the Winterthur and have enough days to set there and look at John's works. Just does not make sense to me. Before long some one will say- lets redo Longrifles of North Carolina- John really needed help on it. Let us repair the Liberty Bell, it can go on and on. Thanks for you view- The Great Pinyone