Hello StephenCoker,

I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate the help.

Although I consider myself a very knowledgeable hobby gunsmith, and have done things that even today I can't believe I accomplished, I have messed up enough things in the past that now I have become super conservative. In days of old, when my toys were not near so expensive, I learned through trial and error. Now, that method is no longer acceptable. My toys are too dear and have history that needs protecting.

This is my first Double rifle, and I've learned in short order that I'm doubly lucky that it is a Fraser. I really like it and have hunted with it for 4 days here in Wisconsin a special 4-day deer season. Not successfully however.

I may well leave the triggers "as is" and just get used to a heavy pull. I can control my squeeze but it takes quite an effort to be consistent when working up loads.

Getting back to the through bolt. Even if I don't need to access the bolt for a trigger job, I found the following: When I checked the tightness of the "hand pin" I noticed a little looseness. I was able to turn a "full turn" to make it tight again. Based on the geometry of the stock and the action and the upper and lower tangs, I assume this tightening "pulled" the stock tighter against the action. But, given that looseness, I would think there might also be some slack in the through bolt since this rifle is likely over 100 years old and wood seems to shrink with age.

This would be another reason to want to access the through bolt; to tighten it. I've made arrangement with a veterinarian friend to have the stock x-rayed in a week or so. Hopefully this will show the depth and location of the bolt. And a drawing would sure be nice.
I'm hoping a well placed "small hole" will allow ingress of a screwdriver to tighten the bolt, and then make a small decorative "removable" plug to fill the hole.

Any suggestions? Does this sound logical to you?