WOW! Been on air all day. In can't beleive that we found these amoung the tons of "junk" that is in the shop. It was right there under our noses the whole time. And we found a few more. And we haven't even finished searching yet. I spoke with Tracie Hill today and he seemed as excited as I. Actually he said he would like a call if we ever sell them and also asked to borrow them for the NRA exhibit in PA in April. He also would like to research and catalog them. Of course I will make them available. When I asked of him if he thought that this find could be important he replied "possibly extremely important" and that he was "tickled pink" that we had found them.
Doug R on the other hand, said that he was not so sure. He cited a case of an experimental m1a1 bolt that he had and no one was interested in it at all. He did ask if I would send them to him so he could look them over though.
Billie, Mike and Ron, If these turn out to be historically important...like the only ones left. Then they will disappear into my private collection and be loaned out occasionally for display. Hey I can't have the real thing...but I can have these! If they are of average importance...they may go up for sale and all will be notified. It is the historical importance that gets my blood flowing. Things that are valuable I will resell but important peices I have a hard time parting with. If they are important and the time comes that I will sell them...I would not just sell them to anyone. Phill My foremost concern is that important relics are preserved and available to share the history...not so much the money...but we sure are curious!
I will take more detailed pictures and post them in the long neglected research center of my site. Will post a direct link when I am done.
I hope in some small way this could contribute to our hobby.
Now if I could only get it into my head that Guage is spelt GAUGE! Nick...could we please have a spell checker?
Mike...please let me know what you find out about thoes fixtures...and what you plan to do.
Damon