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During my career in manufacturing I hired (and fired) numerous engineers, technicians, toolmakers, etc. Technical folks. Hands on thinkers. Always found the best of the best seemed to march to a different drummer. They could care less if feelings were hurt or if they were making friends. They were dedicated to their craft. They wanted to get things right. They thrived on teaching, one way or the other. You would sink or swim with them not because of how nice you were to them, rather how you performed. They solved problems and turned things out fast. Don’t get in their way. Amazingly, most every customer and supplier also had these types of folks. I would seek them out. You didn’t have to worry about what they said. It was the truth, no matter how painful. Develop a trust with them and you could figure things out, fast. The feel good crowd were shocked with the information I freely got from other organizations. Go with the folks blowing sunshine where it typically didn’t shine, saying things that others wanted to hear instead of what they needed to hear, ultimately getting stepped on all the time, and one was in trouble, fast. Costing many their jobs.

The Evil One is exactly the type of person I would turn rocks over looking for to either deal with or hire if I could. And for the record, I have never met, talked to or purchased anything from the man. Nothing for me to gain or pay back here.
 
I like this reasoning better.
 

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It does not matter if the man has built 10,000 quality rifles. I am not bantering him on his builds. Its his attitude, then you push his cause. I don't believe the man asked for y'alls advice not asked for. What happened to manners from you young people ?
we misplaced them 70 years ago.:ghostly:
 
I don’t care how many rifles a man has built or how much talent and knowledge he has. I have no time or use for arrogant rude, condescending jerks. This guy obviously has issues.
 
Just trying to help the guy out. The rest of his work is good except he needs a little help with his lock panels. Teaching is what I do. I just got back from teaching a 5 day class at the education building at friendship.
So, why don't you idiots jumping all over me go pound sand up your ***.
No, i doubt we are idiots, but you sir removed all doubt ! Have a good one.
 
As my father would say, Constructive Criticism. While we all could use classes by the famous Mike Brooks, it us tough to get away for a week plus the cash. Especially right now.
I commend the OP for having the nads to post hus fifle and the moldings pics.
Hey, the metal finish looks great. The finish looks good. The rifle will function. The moulding look good could they have been differently? Sure. Yes the mouldings should reflect the lock plate. Ok. They function.
I’ve certainly done worse. I build for myself, self taught and I try to learn everyday. I have studied many originals. And try to see what and how they did this or that.
You bet I could use a weeks class and would love it. Just can’t do it. If I was younger I’d find a way.
 
Just tried to help the OP out and all you girls get your panties in a wad. There was not anything offensive in my original post. How typical. I have no idea what your issues are, but this place is so predictable it's boring. Obviously, I have nothing to offer here as any advice is cast aside immediately for some odd reason. You little girls can flop around and figure this stuff for yourselves and ignore 43 years of experience from a fulltime muzzleloading gunmaker. You bore me beyond belief. In fact, internet forums suck. 🥱
 
Here is what I have found on this board; someone can make the worst looking gun you ever saw and a dozen people will chime in with "GREAT JOB"! Perhaps they don't know better, I don't know.

Mike was just being honest, the responses of many here reminds me of Jack Nicholson's line in "A Few Good Men"; "the truth, you can't handle the truth"!

The lock panels in question are pretty bad, on my first rifle mine were worse but I studied the great builders here and saw the error in my ways.

Check out these abominable lock panels on my first rifle, really bad, yuck!

beck lock.jpg


You can't get better if people are patting you on the back and telling you how great you are when you are not.

There has been a shift in this country that places someone's feelings above the truth, sad.
 
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I am a very experienced bow maker, my bows have won over a dozen national championships, I like to help people out in their bow making journey. Like Mike, I was attacked by the peanut gallery if I pointed out a major flaw in a bow someone just made. Vicious stuff like "he will probably never make another bow after your criticism".

So, after a constant barrage of this for a year or so, I finally asked them, "do you want an attaboy for doing a bad job or the truth", they thought about it and decided the truth would help them make much better bows than an attaboy.

What do you guys want, the truth or an attaboy?
 
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You can't get better if people are patting you on the back and telling you how great you are when you are not.

There has been a shift in this country that places someone's feelings above the truth, sad.

What do you guys want, the truth or an attaboy?
It began when everybody started getting Participation Trophies for just being on a team. :dunno:

I want a Participation Trophy for living 69 years without getting myself killed.
And another one for paying off my house that we raised our kids in, without having to move them to another town to stay employed.

Attaboys are great, but if it won't buy me a beer...

And, attaboys are too easily erased by one OhShit.
 
Eric,
Couldnt agree more. Mike’s advice is ALWAYS right on, his delivery, not always PC.
When you get to our age, small talk is a waste of time.
When I first showed my work to my friend, and mentor of Lehigh, Allen Martin, his comment was……. You need to put that fat girl on a diet.
Rude? No. True? Yes. Improve my work? Absolutely!
This is why we’re here, isn’t it? To do better work?
Like Eric said, do we just want the pat on the back?
 

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