Gentlemen:I have stated previously that research is a good thing. I have also stated that "Independent" verification is good, YOU WILL NOTICE I SAID INDEPENDENT! I have stated Mr. Petrov's overall body of work is a good thing and is to be much admired. What I have had a problem with and so do some others among the gun collecting fraternity, is that it is felt that Mr. Petrov holds OTHERS to a much higher standard when dealing with them and their guns, than he does himself or his guns. A good example, is his telling of finding his "MINAR". He bought it out of the old Shotgun News, received it as a 1903 Sporter and immediately recognized the possibility it could be a Minar, [none are known to be marked and although never having ACTUALLY seen a Minar rifle in situ, there is one at the Bufalo Bill Museum in CODY WYOMING] and he proceeds to verify it genuineness by accepting from a rank stranger, that a particular rifle is O'Connor's Minar without [at least without citing in his writings] his verification of this from the O'Connor family [Bradford is still alive and active with the JACK O'CONNOR CENTER in Lewiston Idaho or more importantly the serial numbers matching!] In 1949, -50 years- before Mr. Petrov met the alleged owner, O'Connor stated this rifle's condition THEN WAS... the stock had been broken/cracked, the checkering was gone/smooth, the 3rd barrel on it was WORN OUT[presumably not a Sukalle], and a horse had trampled it[the RIFLE].THE RIFLE'S INLETTING WHICH MINAR HAD SO IMPRESSED PETROV WITH, ON HIS OWN RIFLE WAS ABSOLUTELY USELESS IN IDENTIFYING IT AS A MINAR...AND THIS WAS THE RIFLE HE USED TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY HIS RIFLE...AS A "MINAR!" and has ever since. He purchased an older 1903 Springfield from an auction with white forearm tip and gripcap and OVERNIGHT it became a sporter pictured in a rifle rack next to Harvey Rodgers,with no other provenance or indicators! The point is, I say I saw and knew something and somebody and he wants to check it out... fine! NO PROBLEM! Next book he publishes, let's see if he can get a photo of the Cody Museum Minar rifle and let somebody NEUTRAL report their findings...INDEPENDENT AND VERIFIABLE and agree beforehand, to put their findings in his book! I know the people who support Mr. Petrov unquestioningly won't be affected one bit by my comments, what I am hoping is to reach those, with an open mind. Jerry