Hello to all.
I just started on this forum today. I am going a bit slow and trying to figure it out, but it seems to be pretty much like other forums I have used. A few differences, but I will ask if I need help.
I am a full time gunsmith most well known for making muzzleloaders, but I have done about every type of gunsmithing there is over the 48 years I have been doing it, and I love shooting and encourage any kind of shooting that burns powder or even compresses air.
I am in the middle of Wyoming in the Wind River Valley.
I hope to have some fun here and maybe I can contribute.
I am a far better gunsmith than I am a cyber-guy, so some of you may need to hold my hand a bit as I start and as I learn to use this thing. Computers hate me.

Steve Zihn

Welcome!!!

Great to meet you!

Welcome aboard. It can get rocky at times, but you will figure it out. miles

Hey guys, 1st question. In the line above there is a place called "my stuff" and it shows I have mail, but when I click on it, it opens and I don't have mail. I can't seem to find the mail or something is not working right (probably me)
Can you guys advise me how to use this form correctly and open that letter?

Just ignore the flashing envelope. It's a PITA glitch, has been for years, and there is no fix.

Welcome aboard!

OK Cool.
I thought I was doing something wrong.

Oh, don't worry, bro.

If you do anything wrong, someone will let you know....

Welcome Steve,.....I've seen pics of your Mls, ...NICE !

GTC

Welcome aboard!

Thanks guys.

Welcome aboard! Sounds like you have much to contribute.

THIS!!!! As I too have seen your work Steve, albeit thru cyberspace ... while drooling over my laptop keyboard. To call you sir a "talented gunsmith" would indeed be a gross understatement! You are an artist and craftsman.

Well thank you guys, I appreciate the kindness.

If anyone is interested here are some links to a few pages of pictures. The first album has several pages and so do a few of the others, but some are only 1-2 pages.
Should keep you busy looking for a little while anyway.
Hope you like them.

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/szihn/American%20guns/

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/szihn/2010%20Church%20rifle/

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/szihn/German%20guns/

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/szihn/English%20guns/

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/szihn/Made%20for%20Freddie%20Harrison/

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/szihn/pistols/

If you have Adblock Plus, you can remove the annoying blinking envelope with one mouse-hover - then click.

A few days ago, I unloaded Adblock Plus for much resources-friendlier Ublock Origin. If you go into Firefox Add-Ons and Ublock's settings, you can do a little tweaking to get rid of the envelope there too.

szihn
After opening Photobucket and examining that ML, the wood carvings (especially underneath) is outstanding.

I could never own something that beautiful. I would scratch it-up the first time I head to the thick swamps.

Thanks GoexBH.
That's a nice thing to say.

However.......... I love to point this out.

We will go to a car dealer and buy a car or truck for $20,000 or $30,000 and drive it to work, the store and for every other reasons for 15 to 30 years. In 20 years the auto is worth about 10% of it's original price because of wear and also because they get dents, dings and scratches as they are used.

We just accept it as reality.

I get about $3,500 to $4,200 for my high end American style Rifles. So my best cost about 20% or 25% of a good used car. In 20 years the rifle is worth MORE then it cost new even if it has a few dings scratches and so on, but if you take care of them they are not worn out. In fact, there are flintlocks in museums that were new in the American Revolution that could still be used to hunt today. That's leaving a piece of America' culture to our great great grand kids.

So never let yourself think a gun is too nice to use.
IT'S A GUN! That's why I make them. That's what they are for. Make meat with them and enjoy them.

I take great pains to make them shoot well. I feel somehow cheated out of the value of my labor if someone doesn't used the accuracy and function that I take so many hours to put into them.

We should enjoy owning guns as much as shooting guns.

If my customers love to OWN the gun as much as they like shooting and hunting with them I feel like I have done something of value. Something that will last long after I am gone.

Someone with knowledge

I sure hope so hanco.
I have 52 years of experience in this. I would hope even a simpleton like myself could learn about a subject if he studied it for 52 years,

Welcome aboard sir. If I have any questions regarding my ML hunting, I'll look you up. Sure would like to see one of those beautiful works of art hanging above my fireplace some time.

Guess I'll need to get the fireplace first.

Ingwe is expecting a case of good booze as your bribe for the Dinkathon, even if it is done for this season.

Amigo, he builds stuff to shoot.

Otherwise, yes.

happy to have you as a resource sir.welcome aboard

Thanks guys.

Welcome!
I recognize some of your handiwork...this patch box is kind of hard to forget!

Do you like fancy patch boxes?
I can post a few more if you'd like.