No longer building, but this pic......

[Vaino]

Due to very bad eyesight, I'm no longer able to build MLers which I've enjoyed doing for the past 46 years. After a shaky start due to over confidence { was a toolmaker}, finally settled down and built a few MLers. The pic shows 2 blanks and bbls, one partially completed LR and the finished LR above the 3 is a Bucks County which was shortly sold.

Filled 2 racks w/ my builds and one day realized that they're just sitting there collecting dust but really didn't want to sell any but eventually, all were sold except my personal guns. What I found out was that I enjoyed building MLers and not collecting them

Due to the hunting and fishing , the build times were mainly after deer hunting {Nov} and to the spring fishing which started in May.

At 89 it really was time to relax and the bad eyes caused me to do just that. This post isn't seeking sympathy at all....it's just a fact of life.....Fred

 

[mushka]

You are to be congratulated on your skills as well as your wisdom. Enjoy your relaxation time.

 

[deermanok]

It sounds like you have had a wonderful life, something that many of us can only dream about. God bless you sir.
Jim

 

[deerstalkert]

creating beautiful things earns you a wonderful and deserved retirement. your creations make this world a better place.
May you live in total bliss another 89 years.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Fred, you followed your dreams. Not many folks can say that.
Congratulations on choosing and following your path.

 

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

Fred, we've chatted before on another forum. If you need anything, just ask.
My uncle is 96, almost 97. Like you, he can't build anything anymore, but still goes to the gym 3 times a week. He heard from a cousin of mine that I was making some knives, as well as LR's, and now nothing will do but for me to build him a Damascus skinning knife, and sheath. Never mind that he will not be skinning out deer, cattle, or elephants - he wants a skinning knife, and he will be getting one!
Started making the handle from bloodwood. You ever worked with that? Beautiful color, but!!! Almost impossible to work with chisel or knife - you need a small sledge hammer to drive the chisel. So switched over to Honduran mahogany - a woodworker's dream wood! Used a lot to repair boats 50+ years ago, and happened to have a nice 4/4 plank in my woodpile.
You keep going! You can still load and shoot the blooming ML's! You can also write a short autobiography for your grand and great grandkids. Go plant some tulips this fall, as I did last fall - makes you glad to look forward to next spring when they pop up. And keep sharing your knowledge of building with others like me.