Thanks for the comments, y'all. The stain is really striking and the artist, Tom Stratton, tells me that without it you can barely see the grain in the maple. He's amazing. I am going to try to get scans (as opposed to pics) of the backsprings tomorrow and will post them here - he makes it look like working is steel is as easy as working in wedding cake icing. His day job is as a construction worker, putting in glass in skyscrapers waaaaaay on up there. He's also a musician - talent comes in buckets to some folks! The sleeves just appeared here - I bought a mint Case Tested piece that arrived in the Tiffany sleeve and I think the red one came wrapped around an Effingham Cripple Creek barlow. Wish I had a source for 'em!
Watch for more and better images soon!
Best,
Billy
