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Kirk,

I could find nothing in the July 1941 American Rifleman referring to Robert Milhoan. The February, 1966 article is fascinating, however.

It does start off with misinformation. According to data recovered by Michael Petrov, Milhoan's birth date was April 17, 1896, not 1886, as stated in the article, which would make Milhoan 70, not 80, at the time the article was published.

What particularly interested me was the quotation attributed to Milhoan, "I have built around 40 complete guns, everything from falling-block single shots to double rifles, including 3 Drillings and 5 double barrelled shotguns." By this, I take it that Milhoan meant that he had made everything about the gun in question, including the action. I can think of no other American gunsmith of the time period, except for John M. Browning, who could make that claim, although such a feat is still common among European gun makers.

The Milhoan stock is certainly massive, and the presence of the folding leaf sights led the uninformed seller to assume that the rifle was intended for Africa. His ignorance in general was amazing. The pistol grip incorporates Milhoan's version of the Wundhammer swell, which can be seen to extend beyond the checkered part of the grip. It looks a little strange, but certainly gives a close fit to the right hand.

Don,

Thank you very much for your contribution to the Milhoan story. I particularly appreciate the fact that this is your first post. Anything else you can remember about your relationship with Robert Milhoan would be most welcome.

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