Rich,
I hear ya on trying to keep things focused and not bashy. Really tho no one should expect a 'near perfect' lock for less then 200 dollars (unless they are getting it from Jim) as long as the budget lock is fixable then the customer probabley got exactly what they paid for.
I have said it before and I stand by it- Locks should cost 500 bucks and a Barrel should cost the same- Any offered at a lower price point
MUST have some shortcomings. (see parenthesis above) Acknowledging these short comings is not bashing it is helping to further the appreciation for well built locks and it helps to improve the saftey, reliability and shooting performance of muzzleloading side locks. In the long run educated customers are the best thing for someone trying to make a living at lock manufacture.
Sad concern this bashing thing but it is certainly PC in this age of coddling. Kind of like elementary schools and colleges give children ribbons and prizes for coming in 4th , 5th , 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, ........23rd.....65th meanwhile the kid that worked thier fingers to the bone stands and gets the same reward as those who did the minimum................ hmmmmm sounds kind of commie to me.
Hope you can teach more
RE the valve rouge mentioned above. Mr Rase mentioned some years ago on ALR that the way he fit axles was to make them a real tight fit and then spin them with Rouge to fit. Best hint ever. Before I read that I was trying (and failing) to measure my way to an acceptable fit. Those little tidbits of knowledge are so valuable.
