Hello PreserveFreedom. I have had one of these carbines for some years now. I got interested in it after reading an article in the Backwoodsman magazine. Since then, I have had a lot of fun with it. The local muzzleloader club that I used to belong to allowed me to shoot it one time in the rifle trail walk. I came in second place with it. Everyone was suprised and the shoot directors later told me that they silently laughed at my request to use it. They figured that I would hit few targets.
It is in fact a very accruate shooter. I often packed it along while chasing bobcats with my hounds. I have also taken a lot of squirrels and grouse with it.
Cabelas will take care of the problem easy enough for you by a simple hand/spring replacement. So far, I have had no issues with mine. Enjoy it often and as you said, a lot of people compliment the looks of them. I have had several people want to trade me out of mine.
I include a few pics
Both of the above pics taken a few years back. I scanned them from hard copy prints so the quality is lacking. I had intentions of taking a Mnt. Lion with this gun, but never got around to it.
I have since removed all of the bluing, proof marks, and writing on the barrel. Only the serial number remains. Also removed the varnish stock finish and replaced it with a hand rubbed oil finish. I made the scabbard to the left of the carbine out of light weight deer hide.
The hound next to me in the upper pics was always by favorite and the best cold tracker that I ever had. After a long and active life, she now rests in the ground below the carbine. Interestingly, my daughter found this heart shaped rock and painted a memorial on it for me. This gun brings back a lot of memories.