I started building back in the early 1970s during the rebirth of muzzle loading. Gun builders were not that common nor was information about how to build one exactly easy to find. Anything that had to do with a contemporary maker or a "how to do it" article was read, re-read, and then saved. One dedicated maker in particular seemed to be very active and was oft mentioned in the old, late and great, magazine,
The Buckskin Report. To cut to the quick, his work was beautiful and he quickly became someone to learn from and emulate.
Over the years we came to be aware of each other and had chatted occasionally on the pages of muzzle loading related forums such as this one. Turns out they held things in common other than gun building. Both served in Vietnam up in the same neck of the woods, had intimate knowledge of the State of Iowa, and myriad other little things. Then, the day before yesterday, this tall skinny guy with a big ---- eating grin on his face came 'round the house to my blacksmith shop.... and I'd finally come face to face with the legendary Dan Phariss! Such a nice man and definitely a walking book of knowledge! Sadly, at least for me, our time together was rushed and too short. Dan was just passing through from the Camp Perry matches and this old fat boy needed to scurry off to the VA in Des Moines, but thankfully a very long time dream of mine had finally come true. (I was even able to get rid of one of my books on him!) Here's a pic of about 100 combined years of gunsmithing. Cheers, Bookie
