Interesting Brian! My mistake on the scope vs. rifle numbers on the wrist - it's not like I didn't know that after all.
Politics? Here we are collecting, restoring and discussing the implements of the ultimate political event: war. Other forums seem to get along with a space for such discussions, even thrive. Perhaps that's part of the reason this place is so quiet? It's less and less easy to ignore "politics", and that's the result of too many of us having done so for too long.
As you know we in Canadaseem to have, or had, a certain natural cultural affinity for the old South and to some extent, New England
(the region, not the state).