So after tossing ideas around (and asking hundreds of questions on here), I finally called Melvin Forbes today and told him "Well Mr. Forbes...you've worn me down.....Let's order a rifle".

He laughed, and we started talking about the particulars of the build. Here's what I was fairly sure I wanted......

Model 24 left handed

* .30-06 caliber (yeah, I know...boring...but SO versitile!).
* 24" #2 contour stainless barrel.
* LOP @ 13.75" (it's amazing how important this is for proper fit).
* Maple leaf camo pattern on the stock (NULA calls it "CF").

So after we went through all the details, I asked him if he thought that sounded like a pretty well put together setup. His response?
He said, "Not only does it SOUND good....It LOOKS good too....because I'm staring at that exact rifle right now".

I didn't really understand exactly what he meant at first....then he explained. He has a handfull of rifles he takes to trade shows, the NRA conventions, ect......and the EXACT one I wanted to order was already made.

5 1/4 lbs. of exactly what I wanted without the 4-6 month wait!!!

He checked the serial # and said it was a 2008 model, but was exactly the same as what he would build today if that one wasn't still around. I can't help but trust the guy. It's like I was buying a rifle from my father.

Mr. Forbes truly is a cool guy. Humble, yet EXTREMELY confident in the product he makes. He told me "I don't want you to get the rifle and just be ok with it....I want you to wet your pants when you see it".

So....I put some money down on the rifle so it would officially be mine, and Melvin is mailing me their color catalog of all the different stock colors and designs so that he knew for sure there wasn't a different paint design I would like even better than the maple leaf pattern.

What a cool day!

SCHOOLCRAFT