Here is the passage I published from the letter for you folks who might not have the book.
Letters from R.G. Owen to Col H. P. Sheldon
Late November or Early December 1923: Dear Mr. Sheldon, Just a line in answer to your last letters. Which I did not answer. Have been busy evenings putting a little extra work on my own Springfield. I have the stock on the desk now before me. All that remains to be done now is to brown the metal work, and I think I am at last satisfied that I have a good looking and for me, a quick handling little Springfield second to none in quality of workmanship and finish in this lil ole U.S.A. this is the kind of work I would like to work on all the time.
In a couple of weeks I am going to send this rifle for you to handle, examine, and shoot if you wish, for I know you will appreciate the work it represents. Also the beautiful piece of wood in stock. I only wish I could get blocks as good as this right along, but as you know the average sportsman sees nothing in all these little things, and would not pay the difference. This material is getting very scarce and this is the best I have been able to get hold of. I have told my stock man in England, if possible to get me at least twelve of this grade. I know that I am asking almost an impossibility and Ill go broke when I get the bill, but theres a fascination in wood for me, that is wood of this kind. The only other block I have seen anything like this is one I have in a 22 Rem. which by the way I want to sell. Am thinking of sending this up to Kirkwood Bros. Boston. The block for the stock of this little gun cost me $24. The grip has been remolded, the grip is capped with an engraved grip cap. The buttplate is of steel checkered and engraved. Gun is almost new, has gold bead front sight with Lyman peep rear, no notch in the barrel little blueing worn off but very little. Stock has gold oval. Slide handle is a nice piece of wood to match stock. The whole being done in very fine checkering. It is a beautiful little rifle and you would like it. You can have it for $50. You can pay me anytime between now and next June. Will send it for you to see. Would like you to have this little gun, am going to cash in all my guns, all the Springfields. The Greener went to Kirkwoods today. Want to raise some money for my sidelock 20 bore, also buy all the Circassian Walnut I can get hold of as one of these days it is going to peter out, and I think it would be a nice feeling to know I had a year or twos supply, just like having money in the bank. I certainly hate to send this little 22 to Kirkwoods as some dub is liable to get hold of it that doesnt know a piece of pine from a piece of walnut. So let me know if you wish this in your battery or to make a present to that young shooting partner of yours.
Think I will send it to you anyhow, and I wont feel a bit bad if you cant use it, but want you to see how a twenty two can be made to look anyhow. Just send it back if you cant use it.
7th December 1923: Dear Mr. Sheldon, I did not send the 22 to you because after writing I thought it seemed just like pushing the gun on you but what I really mean was that you so much appreciate a nice gun that I wanted you to have it. Now Mr. S take it out, shoot it, keep it for a few days and if you just dont like it , just send it back and I wont feel at all badly about it.
Since changing this gun over I have made about 10 just like it. That is for my best friends who have seen it. They seem to like the man size butt and changed grip.
9th January 1924: Dear H.P. Your two last letters received, also the little gun arrived Monday, The little 22 goes back today, guess the letter giving my idea about little present to the master of the house, did not reach you in time to prevent you sending it back. Also want to thank you for the very practical little piece of paper, in the shape a cheque. Suppose I should pretend to be mad and all the usual camouflage, but I am not a bit, mans a fool to carry on that way isnt he, especially a financially poor man, note I said financially, for I am, these days I am just living on my smokes but just you wait a while. Every nickel I can get hold of now goes into gun material mostly walnut.
