Thanks for the information. A John Bivins gun must be special indeed. I had a long conversation with Steve Davis two days ago. He suggested that I buy a relatively inexpensive gun from Caywood Gunmakers first. He recommended I use that for a year or so, before going the full custom route. I will do just that next week.



Steve says Caywood's locks are better than most on the market today, including Chambers. He likes their barrels best, too.



They have a new model in production called the "Southern Mountain Rifle" based a Elisha Bull gun that looks like what I want to start. I'll get it in .45 caliber., so I can use it for deer in NY and NJ.



www.caywoodguns.com



Check out their David Crockett model. It's an exact replica of Crockett's first gun from the East Tennessee Historical Society Museum in Knoxville.