Mark,
I am glad to see that rifle is still in the family.I well remember those locks.
They were unused lockmakers exhibition locks and probably French origin
but no makers name anywhere on them.Tom found them on commercial row
in Friendship in the Fall of 1969 (I think) and promptly bought them.
Later that day we,Tom,Helen,Raleigh and Homer and Jan Shaffer and myself were in
the Dawson camp waiting for Helen and Jan to get the evening meal ready when
a man came into the camp and wanted to know if someone there had bought
those locks.Tom said,"I bought them today".The man then told Tom he was
wanting them and asked how much and promptly got a "NOT for sale".
That man had seen them earlier and was trying to get a price cut and whoever
had them said "NO". Tom the told him when something of that quality turns up
you DON'T argue over price,you buy them. The man tried again to get Tom to
sell them and Homer Shaffer spoke up and told him "You're a pain in my fanny
and the best thing you can do is leave NOW". That ended the talking and we
had a fine steak dinner.I am hoping to meet you for the first time in Friendship
in a few weeks.My opinion of your Dawson grand parents is that they were the
best representatives of the American farmer and the black powder shooting
sports and the rifles that Tom undertook were way ahead of the skill levels of
the majority of makers then active.My opinion of your mother and her sister and
brother are included in this as well.
Bob Roller
