Chargar,
Whelen certainly was/is and iconic figure in the firearms realm, one of my favorites from days of yore was Julian S. Hatcher. Hatcher's notebook in my opinion (not worth much, but mine none the less) is THE definitive work on just about any subject a gun enthusiest and studend could ever desire, he even conducted tests on return flight time of bullets shot straight into the air with some very surprising results. His brother was extremely gifted as well but did not attain the same standing.
I always wondered about Nonte, anyone have a dfinitive answer as to how hemet his demise? If indeed he died in a fire that is a horrible fate.
Jeff