# ls -l foo.tgz 
-rw-------  2 root  wheel  16589784911 Dec 26  2001 foo.tgz
# tar cf /tmp/test.tar foo.tgz
# ls -l /tmp/test.tar 
-rw-------  1 root  wheel  10240 Sep 27 15:58 /tmp/test.tar
# tar tvf /tmp/test.tar
-rw------- root/wheel -590084273 Dec 26 15:08 2001 foo.tgz
# uname -v
NetBSD 1.6 (KYYHKY16) #0: Fri Sep 20 14:40:17 EEST 2002
jmarin@pyy:/tmp/nb/src/sys/arch/i386/compile/KYYHKY16

Argh.. what is the most reliable way of copying a bunch of files
from one machine to another, preserving subdirs, datestamps,
protection flags, owners etc.?

  -jm