Dave,
I am sorry for your loss, I can't even begin to imagine. I have a 10 year old son myself.

Thanks for the info on the gun books. I bought a book this morning online. It's title is the same, but it gave credit to Jack Lott for being the author. So it's a different book, oh shucks, darn, now I 'll have to buy them both

Spent most of the day talking at the gunshop. You know how it is, the smell of Hoppe's, the sound of the lathe or milling machine, and the constant talk of "just one more rifle to the collection."
Tomorrow I get to clamp the '17 in the mill and sporterize the action. My friend is going to talk me through it, so I will be doing the milling myself. Should be fun, it will sort of make it more "my rifle" since I'm doing it myself. I'm 97% sure that I'll be going with the .35 Whelen for the chamber. I now have to find the best place to buy the barrel. The stock is all finished. I polished it today with some Butcher's bowling-alley paste wax. It turned out great, I'm proud of the wood.

Take care, Kevin