[Jeff Higgins]

Yeah Tabs, they certainly are a lot of fun. "Smokeless powder is a passing fad" - Steve Garbe, circa early 1990's. The rare and collectable Trapdoors, along with the Peacemakers, are the most valuable and therefore commonly forged guns out there. Beware those "officers' models" especially; it's estimated that there are more in circulation now than ever left the armory. It's great that there are still a lot of "shooter grade" examples that survive for those of us that like to shoot as well as admire them. So are you looking for a '77 to shoot or collect? Carmen Axtel is still selling modern reproductions, and John Schofstall over at C. Sharps in Big Timber just came out with one. Both are beautiful rifles and capable of match grade accuracy. I'll vouch for John's work; my long range rifle is a '74 in .45-2.6, and my mid range rifle is a '75 in .45-2.1 (.45-70). Both have won their fair share for me.