Well, I took the day off, the weather was comfortable and clear and I thought a drive might be nice. Just to have a destination, I thought I'd see if I could find Mr Curtiss's Frontier Shop. Well, I found it and am all the richer for it. What a place! and What an Individual! I wasn't ready to leave but knew the gentleman had to be hungry. We'd been there almost 3 hours!! I can't say that I wasn't warned.
Shortly after walking in and making introductions and explaining what I thought I wanted, Mr Curtiss started looking through racks of partially finished rifles looking for what he might have that was close. About the third or forth rifle he handed me was what he referred to as a "Southern Mountain Rifle", it was the first time I was ever "spoken to" by a rifle, I carried it around while we compared others and he explained the subtle differences in many of the styles on the racks. It wasn't like I was trying to be sold something I didn't want, he handed me one that was exactly what I'd told him I thought I wanted, in every comparison, they all came up short of the little mountain gun.
My new .40 and I are anxiously awaiting dawn so that we can start becoming more intimately acquainted.
I want to thank all of you who've provided help, suggestions, thoughts and a bit of history, you helped more than you know.
