Michael, I would have to say that until you start posting, I have no interest at all in any bolt action rifle around. I'm still not temped to buy one, but I sure do like looking at what you post.
My own interests are hard to pin down. I very much like english double rifles - really old doubles. With hammers and, as they are all I can afford, with percussion nipples. I own exactly one and it is all the budget will stand.
I also love English double shotguns of the same era - basically 1825ish to turn of the 20th century. I have several and use them a lot - on birds mostly, and occasionally clays. None are "best" guns, but they are what I can afford and what I use, all the time.
But the thing that really gets me going are singleshot hunting rifles from any period in the 19th century. Generally American and almost exclusively used rather hard. I have a few. Some are rebuild because they are unusable and of no collecting value. Others are used as is. But they are used. I think the first time I ever really realized that these were what interested me was when I saw a Carlos Gove rolling block that he had modified with a side lever and a wiping rod. It was what I would consider a top notch rifle, but it was pretty plane jane as well.
One thing that I do like is folk-art engraving and carving on old rifles. Most of it is pretty hideous, but some is just downright marvelous. It is hard to know how to describe the good from the bad, but "I know it when I see it". Unforunately, I only see it when looking at books and the like. Nothing like that has made it into my safe yet.
One thing I would like to own someday is a good plains percussion rifle in a large caliber. Something still good for 100 yd minute of deer. Something that could be come my go-to muzzleloader. Maybe I'll end up buying and restoring/fixing something that I find. Most of those old plains percussions are in pretty bad shape barrel wise in particular. And, generally, that's how I can afford to own what I have. In any event, someday there is one such rifle in my future. But not now, I'm building a highwall and I'm pretty much tapped out, or will be soon.
Brent
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/qclHjMQ.jpg)
