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|  22nd June 2012, 07:04 PM | #20 | 
| Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI 
					Posts: 5,503
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			I guess the "hands-on" source of info is tremendously important.  When  local contemporary masters who are actively involved  in restoration of old weapons and manufacture of new ones tell me that  they can see signs of renovation and of recent assembly, I tend to take their opinion seriously. There is nothing personal here. That's what this Forum is for. If we want to hold our collections in unqualified esteem, we should not show them to strangers and ask for input. We may have our balloons popped. Some of mine certainly were :-) With best wishes to all. | 
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