Thanks guys.
Curtis, the wood is actually flush with the brass, That's a gap about 1/32" there that I could not seem to get to go away, and the brass just slightly bowed when I drove the nails to final depth. I was really beating myself up on that part until I noticed that a couple of originals had a little gap there too. Something I plan to avoid when I get around to making another trade musket, and I will at some point. Next time I plan on making my own butt plate as I plan on making one along the lines of the Benjamin Willets gun in "For Trade and Treaty". I'll also need to fabricate an entry pipe for that one. I will also do the front sight in the original manner on any future build.
Smylee, I agree they need to offer those precarves sans lock inlet. Pecatonica has stated to me that they are willing to inlet as little or as much as the buy wishes. Something future potential buyers might be happy to know.
Taylor, the lock could be a bit tighter inlet and the transitions could be smoother, but that I could fix along the way. And eventually the side plate will have to be corrected. I had it perfectly inlet and then when I tightened the lock bolts it kicked out on the bottom. maybe it's deeper where the bolts go.
