About two years ago maybe more years ago I did see him at the santa rosa gun shows. Other then a professional meeting some years ago, the last time I spoke to him was about an old mauser with a 1917 date that I was thinking changing out the barrel on. He was not really in favor of that him being a collector.
It was just a run of the mill '98 that had seen hard service, perhaps in the balkans or just about anywhere else. I think if I rebedded it and counter bored it would shoot true. Another project waiting to get done. He offered me a CZ action in trade for that old gun. Easier to get an old gun shooting better than getting a new a barrel that needs to be head spaced and a new stock.