Joe, glad you're back online. Ken called me and let me know that he had gotten the word you were OK, so I was able to relax on that issue!
I also got word that friends of my family down around Birmingham are safe, so I felt a little better, but overall, the Gulf Coastal region is just such a big question mark that any good news is welcome. Keep us up to date, please.
Dave, congratulations on your fore end. Even a #3 oct fore end for a high-wall is a little hard to find around my circle of parts sources and the seller's "good shape" tends to be very different from my expectations!
I was looking for one for my first complete rebuild of a high-wall (my .32-40 plain sporter) for over a year after I found the butt stock, then when I got it, the finish was a perfect match...they look like the came from Winchester together!
BTW Dave, weren't you going to send me your SD mailing address so I could finally return a long mailing tube to your new place? I'm going to start work on a (gasp) Ballard #5 now, and will sadly leave some of my Winchester work on a back burner for a little longer. Well, this has gone OT and long, but since gas has a bargain price of $3+/gal here, I was afraid to chance it driving to Indiana, 'cause I couldn't cash in my retirement savings over Labor Day weekend to pay for it!
Froggie