diff --git a/bin/date/date.c b/bin/date/date.c
index 95c4908c929f..bb4014750ad7 100644
--- a/bin/date/date.c
+++ b/bin/date/date.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: date.c,v 1.22 1998/04/01 13:54:44 kleink Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: date.c,v 1.23 1998/07/27 16:43:25 mycroft Exp $	*/
 
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 1985, 1987, 1988, 1993
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ __COPYRIGHT(
 #if 0
 static char sccsid[] = "@(#)date.c	8.2 (Berkeley) 4/28/95";
 #else
-__RCSID("$NetBSD: date.c,v 1.22 1998/04/01 13:54:44 kleink Exp $");
+__RCSID("$NetBSD: date.c,v 1.23 1998/07/27 16:43:25 mycroft Exp $");
 #endif
 #endif /* not lint */
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ time_t tval;
 int retval, nflag;
 
 int main __P((int, char *[]));
-static void setthetime __P((char *));
+static void setthetime __P((const char *));
 static void badformat __P((void));
 static void usage __P((void));
 
@@ -134,12 +134,12 @@ main(argc, argv)
 
 void
 setthetime(p)
-	char *p;
+	const char *p;
 {
 	struct tm *lt;
 	struct timeval tv;
-	char *dot, *t;
-	int yearset;
+	const char *dot, *t;
+	int yearset, len;
 
 	for (t = p, dot = NULL; *t; ++t) {
 		if (isdigit(*t))
@@ -154,15 +154,18 @@ setthetime(p)
 	lt = localtime(&tval);
 
 	if (dot != NULL) {			/* .ss */
-		*dot++ = '\0';
-		if (strlen(dot) != 2)
+		len = strlen(dot);
+		if (len != 3)
 			badformat();
+		++dot;
 		lt->tm_sec = ATOI2(dot);
-	} else
+	} else {
+		len = 0;
 		lt->tm_sec = 0;
+	}
 
 	yearset = 0;
-	switch (strlen(p)) {
+	switch (strlen(p) - len) {
 	case 12:				/* cc */
 		lt->tm_year = ATOI2(p) * 100 - TM_YEAR_BASE;
 		yearset = 1;
diff --git a/bin/pax/ar_io.c b/bin/pax/ar_io.c
index af3b69a0bc71..ab9e00039b6b 100644
--- a/bin/pax/ar_io.c
+++ b/bin/pax/ar_io.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: ar_io.c,v 1.8 1998/03/06 09:13:01 mrg Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: ar_io.c,v 1.9 1998/07/27 16:43:25 mycroft Exp $	*/
 
 /*-
  * Copyright (c) 1992 Keith Muller.
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 #if 0
 static char sccsid[] = "@(#)ar_io.c	8.2 (Berkeley) 4/18/94";
 #else
-__RCSID("$NetBSD: ar_io.c,v 1.8 1998/03/06 09:13:01 mrg Exp $");
+__RCSID("$NetBSD: ar_io.c,v 1.9 1998/07/27 16:43:25 mycroft Exp $");
 #endif
 #endif /* not lint */
 
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ static struct stat arsb;		/* stat of archive device at open */
 static int invld_rec;			/* tape has out of spec record size */
 static int wr_trail = 1;		/* trailer was rewritten in append */
 static int can_unlnk = 0;		/* do we unlink null archives?  */
-char *arcname;                  	/* printable name of archive */
-char *gzip_program;			/* name of gzip program */
+const char *arcname;                  	/* printable name of archive */
+const char *gzip_program;		/* name of gzip program */
 
 static int get_phys __P((void));
 extern sigset_t s_mask;
@@ -103,11 +103,11 @@ static void ar_start_gzip __P((int));
 
 #if __STDC__
 int
-ar_open(char *name)
+ar_open(const char *name)
 #else
 int
 ar_open(name)
-	char *name;
+	const char *name;
 #endif
 {
         struct mtget mb;
@@ -1321,7 +1321,7 @@ ar_next()
 		 */
 		if (ar_open(buf) >= 0) {
 			if (freeit) {
-				(void)free(arcname);
+				(void)free((char *)arcname);
 				freeit = 0;
 			}
 			if ((arcname = strdup(buf)) == NULL) {
diff --git a/bin/pax/cache.c b/bin/pax/cache.c
index 287cf946338e..a0b804a003ff 100644
--- a/bin/pax/cache.c
+++ b/bin/pax/cache.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: cache.c,v 1.7 1998/07/26 19:43:14 mycroft Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: cache.c,v 1.8 1998/07/27 16:43:25 mycroft Exp $	*/
 
 /*-
  * Copyright (c) 1992 Keith Muller.
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 #if 0
 static char sccsid[] = "@(#)cache.c	8.1 (Berkeley) 5/31/93";
 #else
-__RCSID("$NetBSD: cache.c,v 1.7 1998/07/26 19:43:14 mycroft Exp $");
+__RCSID("$NetBSD: cache.c,v 1.8 1998/07/27 16:43:25 mycroft Exp $");
 #endif
 #endif /* not lint */
 
@@ -250,12 +250,13 @@ name_uid(uid, frc)
 		if (ptr == NULL)
 			return("");
 		ptr->uid = uid;
-		ptr->valid = INVALID;
 #		ifdef NET2_STAT
-		(void)sprintf(ptr->name, "%u", uid);
+		(void)snprintf(ptr->name, UNMLEN, "%u", uid);
 #		else
-		(void)sprintf(ptr->name, "%lu", (long) uid);
+		(void)snprintf(ptr->name, UNMLEN, "%lu", (long) uid);
 #		endif
+		ptr->name[UNMLEN-1] = '\0';
+		ptr->valid = INVALID;
 		if (frc == 0)
 			return("");
 	} else {
@@ -327,12 +328,13 @@ name_gid(gid, frc)
 		if (ptr == NULL)
 			return("");
 		ptr->gid = gid;
-		ptr->valid = INVALID;
 #		ifdef NET2_STAT
-		(void)sprintf(ptr->name, "%u", gid);
+		(void)snprintf(ptr->name, GNMLEN, "%u", gid);
 #		else
-		(void)sprintf(ptr->name, "%lu", (long) gid);
+		(void)snprintf(ptr->name, GNMLEN, "%lu", (long) gid);
 #		endif
+		ptr->name[GNMLEN-1] = '\0';
+		ptr->valid = INVALID;
 		if (frc == 0)
 			return("");
 	} else {
diff --git a/bin/pax/extern.h b/bin/pax/extern.h
index 3586f7504a8a..418fb4bb25a1 100644
--- a/bin/pax/extern.h
+++ b/bin/pax/extern.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: extern.h,v 1.10 1998/07/26 19:43:14 mycroft Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: extern.h,v 1.11 1998/07/27 16:43:25 mycroft Exp $	*/
 
 /*-
  * Copyright (c) 1992 Keith Muller.
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@
 /*
  * ar_io.c
  */
-extern char *arcname;
-extern char *gzip_program;
-int ar_open __P((char *));
+extern const char *arcname;
+extern const char *gzip_program;
+int ar_open __P((const char *));
 void ar_close __P((void));
 void ar_drain __P((void));
 int ar_set_wr __P((void));
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ extern int pids;
 extern int exit_val;
 extern int docrc;
 extern char *dirptr;
-extern char *ltmfrmt;
+extern const char *ltmfrmt;
 extern char *argv0;
 int main __P((int, char **));
 void sig_cleanup __P((int));
diff --git a/bin/pax/gen_subs.c b/bin/pax/gen_subs.c
index 58f919cb6457..5993056ae9a7 100644
--- a/bin/pax/gen_subs.c
+++ b/bin/pax/gen_subs.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: gen_subs.c,v 1.11 1998/07/26 19:43:14 mycroft Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: gen_subs.c,v 1.12 1998/07/27 16:43:25 mycroft Exp $	*/
 
 /*-
  * Copyright (c) 1992 Keith Muller.
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 #if 0
 static char sccsid[] = "@(#)gen_subs.c	8.1 (Berkeley) 5/31/93";
 #else
-__RCSID("$NetBSD: gen_subs.c,v 1.11 1998/07/26 19:43:14 mycroft Exp $");
+__RCSID("$NetBSD: gen_subs.c,v 1.12 1998/07/27 16:43:25 mycroft Exp $");
 #endif
 #endif /* not lint */
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ ls_list(arcn, now)
 	struct stat *sbp;
 	char f_mode[MODELEN];
 	char f_date[DATELEN];
-	char *timefrmt;
+	const char *timefrmt;
 
 	/*
 	 * if not verbose, just print the file name
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ ls_tty(arcn)
 {
 	char f_date[DATELEN];
 	char f_mode[MODELEN];
-	char *timefrmt;
+	const char *timefrmt;
 
 	if (ltmfrmt == NULL) {
 		/*
diff --git a/bin/pax/pax.c b/bin/pax/pax.c
index 8b17120cccfe..8e5e6b517f8a 100644
--- a/bin/pax/pax.c
+++ b/bin/pax/pax.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: pax.c,v 1.6 1997/07/20 20:32:40 christos Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: pax.c,v 1.7 1998/07/27 16:43:26 mycroft Exp $	*/
 
 /*-
  * Copyright (c) 1992 Keith Muller.
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ __COPYRIGHT("@(#) Copyright (c) 1992, 1993\n\
 #if 0
 static char sccsid[] = "@(#)pax.c	8.2 (Berkeley) 4/18/94";
 #else
-__RCSID("$NetBSD: pax.c,v 1.6 1997/07/20 20:32:40 christos Exp $");
+__RCSID("$NetBSD: pax.c,v 1.7 1998/07/27 16:43:26 mycroft Exp $");
 #endif
 #endif /* not lint */
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ int	pids;			/* preserve file uid/gid */
 int	exit_val;		/* exit value */
 int	docrc;			/* check/create file crc */
 char	*dirptr;		/* destination dir in a copy */
-char	*ltmfrmt;		/* -v locale time format (if any) */
+const	char *ltmfrmt;		/* -v locale time format (if any) */
 char	*argv0;			/* root of argv[0] */
 sigset_t s_mask;		/* signal mask for cleanup critical sect */
 
diff --git a/bin/pax/sel_subs.c b/bin/pax/sel_subs.c
index 822a1c0d4b25..8c41ca0b9c7b 100644
--- a/bin/pax/sel_subs.c
+++ b/bin/pax/sel_subs.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: sel_subs.c,v 1.9 1998/04/01 14:14:43 kleink Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: sel_subs.c,v 1.10 1998/07/27 16:43:26 mycroft Exp $	*/
 
 /*-
  * Copyright (c) 1992 Keith Muller.
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 #if 0
 static char sccsid[] = "@(#)sel_subs.c	8.1 (Berkeley) 5/31/93";
 #else
-__RCSID("$NetBSD: sel_subs.c,v 1.9 1998/04/01 14:14:43 kleink Exp $");
+__RCSID("$NetBSD: sel_subs.c,v 1.10 1998/07/27 16:43:26 mycroft Exp $");
 #endif
 #endif /* not lint */
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ __RCSID("$NetBSD: sel_subs.c,v 1.9 1998/04/01 14:14:43 kleink Exp $");
 #include "sel_subs.h"
 #include "extern.h"
 
-static int str_sec __P((char *, time_t *));
+static int str_sec __P((const char *, time_t *));
 static int usr_match __P((ARCHD *));
 static int grp_match __P((ARCHD *));
 static int trng_match __P((ARCHD *));
@@ -595,41 +595,52 @@ trng_match(arcn)
 
 #if __STDC__
 static int
-str_sec(char *str, time_t *tval)
+str_sec(const char *p, time_t *tval)
 #else
 static int
-str_sec(str, tval)
-	char *str;
+str_sec(p, tval)
+	const char *p;
 	time_t *tval;
 #endif
 {
 	struct tm *lt;
-	char *dot = NULL;
-	int yearset;
+	const char *dot, *t;
+	int yearset, len;
+
+	for (t = p, dot = NULL; *t; ++t) {
+		if (isdigit(*t))
+			continue;
+		if (*t == '.' && dot == NULL) {
+			dot = t;
+			continue;
+		}
+		return(-1);
+	}
 
 	lt = localtime(tval);
-	if ((dot = strchr(str, '.')) != NULL) {
-		/*
-		 * seconds (.ss)
-		 */
-		*dot++ = '\0';
-		if (strlen(dot) != 2)
+
+	if (dot != NULL) {
+		len = strlen(dot);
+		if (len != 3)
 			return(-1);
+		++dot;
 		lt->tm_sec = ATOI2(dot);
-	} else
+	} else {
+		len = 0;
 		lt->tm_sec = 0;
+	}
 
 	yearset = 0;
-	switch (strlen(str)) {
+	switch (strlen(p) - len) {
 	case 12:
-		lt->tm_year = ATOI2(str) * 100 - TM_YEAR_BASE;
+		lt->tm_year = ATOI2(p) * 100 - TM_YEAR_BASE;
 		yearset = 1;
 		/* FALLTHROUGH */
 	case 10:
 		if (yearset) {
-			lt->tm_year += ATOI2(str);
+			lt->tm_year += ATOI2(p);
 		} else {
-			yearset = ATOI2(str);
+			yearset = ATOI2(p);
 			if (yearset < 69)
 				lt->tm_year = yearset + 2000 - TM_YEAR_BASE;
 			else
@@ -637,17 +648,17 @@ str_sec(str, tval)
 		}
 		/* FALLTHROUGH */
 	case 8:
-		lt->tm_mon = ATOI2(str);
+		lt->tm_mon = ATOI2(p);
 		--lt->tm_mon;
 		/* FALLTHROUGH */
 	case 6:
-		lt->tm_mday = ATOI2(str);
+		lt->tm_mday = ATOI2(p);
 		/* FALLTHROUGH */
 	case 4:
-		lt->tm_hour = ATOI2(str);
+		lt->tm_hour = ATOI2(p);
 		/* FALLTHROUGH */
 	case 2:
-		lt->tm_min = ATOI2(str);
+		lt->tm_min = ATOI2(p);
 		break;
 	default:
 		return(-1);