Ron,
Oh my God, maybe you and I should become "minutemen"
We got them covered from long distance with the Sharps and up close with the lugers.
I've got the same model, same caliber but with a 34 inch Octagon barrel, fancy wood, steel buttplate and MVA sights. Your right, they are "keepers". In fact, I married off my daughter last year and she bought one for my new son in law for a wedding present. Now how's that for a woman? Did I raise her right or what?
That rifle is an awesome shooter and I really enjoy it. It's probably the best gun I own. It's certainly the most expensive one I own
This year, I hope to take an elk with it.
My only regret is that I got the 34 inch barrel. It's a beautifully balanced shooter with the 34 but a little heavy to be packing around the woods. My son-in-law got a 32 inch and it shoots just as well.
Have you ever toured Shilo? Awesome shop. A buddy of mine took me in there and I knew I was screwed. I dropped down a deposit and we went across the street and drank a whole lot of whiskey trying to figure out how I was going to tell the wife what I did? It was one of the best days of my life. It's a long story and this is the short version. I got mine in 02 after a 4 year wait. I was in the peak of when you had to wait a long time. Now days, it's a minimal wait. Maybe just a few months. I don't know for sure now.
Sincerely,
Steve