Well, thanks again everyone. I have to fess up, I drew up the pattern and had my friend Dennis Priddy engrave the lock with his homemade "graver max" and microscope. I don't like engraving the hard lockplate and Dennis does a lot of steel engraving and sculpting, but the other engravings are out of my head and through my hand.
VAriflegun, After the clorox bath, which went too long in my opinion, it gets washed down and wire wheeled to get the crud off. Then I draw-sanded it with 320 grit backed with a file 'cause it was pitted too much. I then rub-in with 0000 steelwool, a very diluted superblue/water solution , to achieve a steel grey barrel instead of dark blue. Rinse in water again & oil.
What's next? Sell the Marshall rifle! Then for fun...an excursion down to Bucks County with a sweet little .40x 44" A wt. Getz brrl & Dlx. Siler lock and perfectly tight striped, hard maple stock. Something simple w/side opening pb & incised carving apropriate to the area. It's in a Verner shape already.
Then I've got plans in progress for a "Barn Jaeger" or Schimmel. A down & dirty bearbustin hunting rifle w/24" to 28"lg. .62cal brrl.
Of course if anyone wants some custom rifle work done, I'll put you at the front of the line.
As a test...I left something off this rifle to see if yer paying attention. No one mentioned it yet....hmmm, what could it be?
