Erik,

What do you mean “not quite gloat?” Do you mean that just because you didn’t
score a complete instrument with all it’s rods, it’s somehow not a gloat?

I’ve never seen ANYTHING by Sawyer in the wild. Period.  You’ve done very well!

And, they weren’t even rusty!

“I spent WAY too much time looking for the missing rods in the kit, but, alas,
they were not there. “

No, you didn’t spend “too much time looking for the missing rods!”  You spent
exactly the correct amount of time; if you’d walked away without searching every
nook and cranny of that chest for the missing rods, you’d wonder if they’d been
in there for the rest of your life.

John Ruth
Who wouldn’t have had the self-discipline to leave the Starrett goodies behind.
I have a soft spot for “color case hardening.”