"Now and then, with great rarity, there came a blending of steel and wood and brass and a man's knowledge into one rifle, when it all came together just ... exactly ... right and a weapon of such beauty and accuracy was born that it might be actually worshiped."
The Weapon, pp. 4-5

"The barrel was beautiful. The grease coated and soaked into the color of the steel to make it seem deep and rich, so that [McManus] could look into the steel itself [...]"
The Weapon, p. 13

"It was not love at first sight. Clara was too practical for that. She came with her father to pick up his fowling piece that Cornish had repaired. Cornish could not take his eyes off Clara and when he smiled at her and nodded, she smiled back in a way that meant so much."
The Weapon, p. 26

"Byam did not think about what...