Pappy,
Looks like I pirated the thread a bit but just bear with me for a moment.
Behring knives is a short distance from what may have been the original smoke jumper school in Missoula.
A number of smoke jumpers were paratroopers.

A couple of issues ago in the National Smokejumper magazine they have detailed stories about smoke jumpers working for Air America in "nam and "elsewhere".

In fact,back in '71 one was prime suspect in the D.Cooper skyjack incident.

One of my grand-daughters swears that I was D. Cooper. (I have an alibi,I think).

Yep,a different breed of men.

Rocky,
When you get that rig from El Paso Saddlery,let us see some photos. I know they do superb work.

Wayne