Mike, Thanks, I've had a couple PM's with him so hope it works out. If I have this figured out correctly over 900 people have viewed my post on seven forums.
As a last resort I'll drop a note to the auction company. Sometime this works, other times not so much.
One time a large well known auction company had a Niedner rifle for sale. I recognized the rifle and as a matter of fact I had (still have) a pile of letters between Niedner and the owner discussing this rifle. I asked that they contact the owner, they told be they would be happy to auction off the letters. I still have the letters and the owner does not have the history. (it's a smooth-bore 1886 Winchester)
I've also had a good experience, I wrote a letter to the company that auctioned the John Amber estate and asked them to forward a letter to the man who bought the Stewart Edward White rifle. They did, we became friends and twenty some years later I bought the rifle.
