GG375,Re your question about wood and case colour upgrades.I did make enquiries about a wood upgrade from various sources-not just the wholesaler.One source made a comment to me that the wood upgrades seem rather small in increments.So a wood upgrade might not give you a very much better stock.If you look at the Merkel catalogue even the very expensive grades seem to me to have rather modest wood.Merkel seem to place higher priority on straight grain flow rather than colour and figure.In view of this I chose to stay with the standard wood for the time being.Ross Waghorn is a very fine local stocker so I might go to him if I decide on something eye catching.I didnt enquire about clour case hardening.Regards HUBERT