Ed Wenger
As I stated earlier, the rifle kind of designed itself. I couldn't find a piece of wood to match the stock so I figured a piece of black cow horn would work. I cut several horns in half looking for a good solid piece that was big enough to make the lid, but most of them had flaws. When I cut the last black horn that I had in half, I saw that it had that amber streak in the center that looked like a feather. At first I was quite disappointed and almost threw it away. Then I realized the amber design was on both halves of the horn so I used the other half to put the raised section on the cheek piece. It is hard to see but there is also a black moon inlet into the cheek piece. Because of that, my son calls this the Eclipse rifle. That being done I decided to use the same piece of cow horn for the barrel pin inlays, or in this case screws, and the toe plate.
bobhertrich
Thirty years ago I purchased a very large box of horns at Dixon's, and in that box was a few solid black horns which I kept for just the right job. I guess I found it.
Bob Roller
Thank you for calling my rifle American Art. That means a lot to me.
