G Rummel, I don't usually post criticism unless some one asks for it, but it seems like you are encouraging different comments and opinions.
So here goes. On an exceptionally nice gun such as this one, there are a few things that stand out as not quite right to my eye.
One thing that bothers me is the black/dark staining. If you look at the patchbox side of the butt, the dark along the butt end is not carried onto the patchbox. It does not make sense that the edges of the patchbox have no dark, or that the butt is too dark. The dark looks too 'sprayed on' to my eye. It doesn't look natural to me, but maybe if it were rubbed back a bit, it would look more blended, like oxidized varnish, or dirt of the ages.
Another thing is the thickness of the edges of the brass...it's way too thick. The edges of the guard should almost be knife edge thin, and the exposed brass on the edge of the buttplate should be very thin as well. Patchbox endplate suffers from the same thicknbess.
On the other hand, your carving looks very good, just right for a Lehigh. Stock shape is very good, too. I am going to try my hand at a Lehigh, and I can only hope to do it as well as you did. Keep up the fine work.
Tom
