Don was a long time friend and mentor. I had a very fine Kentucky he made for a mutual friend but it went to pay a doctor bill.... I have two of Don's flint Hawkens and a pair of flint pistols.
He is a greatly unappreciated maker today who in his working years was head and shoulders above almost everyone.
Kings Ransom's stock was being laid out on his garage floor when his neighbor walked over to tell him Kennedy had been shot. it was named when someone offered him $1500 for it in 1964-65 at Freindship. Don refused and a freind told him 'that's a King's Ransom!"
Don made many, many fine rifles. You are lucky to have this one.
Don logged the guns he made and restored until May 1971 then for some reason he stopped. The last Bedford listed is Feb 23, 1971. 45 cal 44" Golden Age barrel 44". He made many more after this but never logged them. Just as a reference his FS FL Hawken "pattern rifle" was finished Jan 3. 1971 and counting this rifle he made 7 by May 5, 1971.
#1 is a pistol from March 1950. He used an old shotgun lock and a piece of old Winchester rifle barrel.
#2 in noted as " .375 cal fullstock percussion pistol 6" round barrel, Sold 1954 to ? (All parts made by hand at Norfolk Virginia Naval Base)"
Rest in Peace Don.
