You've had a hard time "locating" talent here in the U.S. for "Best English Blacking"?? Maybe you havent "looked" hard enough? There's alot of people who can rust blue or "Black" barrels in the finest of European, American or English traditions. JJ Perodeau of Champlin Arms in Enid Ok, John Gillette of Classic Arms Inc., Kirk Merrington, J. David Yale, Larry Schuknecht, Pete Mazur, Doug Turnbull, Keith Kearcher, Dale Tate, etc etc.

Dustin