Thank you All for your compliments. ... and patience while I sort through Michael's items and try to post lots that make sense. I have been pleasantly surprised, in some cases very surprised, by the values of his items.
As you can imagine, Michael had an incredible research library. Many of you have watched a hundred or so books listed and sold on eBay already, but there are many, many more to go. I have to try to incorporate 10-20 books in every auction going forward.
My wife refers to my auction listings as my "part time job", following my full time job in an office -and responsibilities as a father and husband. The opportunity to handle and research these items and flip through Michael's books has been incredible.
I sometimes laugh to myself because I am reminded of a memory from last year when Michael and I were helping sort through the estate of a fellow gun collector and gunsmith, John Wills. Michael stood in John's gunroom shaking his head and said, "You know ... John and I had a deal that whoever died first, the other would be responsible for taking care of the other's gunroom. ... BUT I was supposed to go first!" ... and he laughed. Now I am standing in Michael's gunroom and home office shaking my head and thinking, "nice work fellas ... now both of you have stuck me with both your gunrooms!" But seriously, this has been an incredible opportunity both wives have given me and it's something I wouldn't turn away.
Thank you to all of you for your support by continuing to watch my auctions. I appreciate the help from many of you in correctly identifying items that I mis-labeled or didn't identify correctly.
Thanks again ...
Joe D
