I was pretty hot to get a TVM, but the pics on their site revealed some pretty cobby fit and finish. My Mortimer was very nice, and my Cook pistol is a gem, very finely made, as it should be for the price.
I had occasion to visit TVM, the Colonial Virginia lock I ordered was larger than the usual one (L&R ?) they put on their “fowlers” it and it arrived poorly inlet, with about a 2 mm gap between the pan and the barrel, guaranteed to ignite power in the lock mechanism. Shoulda never left the shop like that.
On my next drive to NY State I stopped in at their place in Corinth to have it properly inlet. They used a production line of three or four guys and I think the different-sized lock upset the routine. It seemed apparent they used the heavy untapered smoothbore barrels on their “fowlers” for speed and ease of routing out the barrel channel in the stock.
On the topic of the Corinth school of gunsmithing, I actually have a plain, no frills Jack Garner longrifle; .45 cal, 44’ barrel, small Siler lock, single trigger, single lock bolt, no side plate, no nosecap but everything put together and inlet well.
It’s my Alamo rifle when I volunteer there, I present is as a representative no-frills trade rifle as a regular guy might own.