Totally agree on the "Round-ness" preference of the Highland makers. Truly the best overall at producing double guns, single rifles and bolt rifles. As a whole in concert that is. I still think Rigby built the finest bolt rifle with there pre-98 and first generation 98 .275's. I think WR built the best double guns/rifles and I believe the Germans understand the single rifle as no other. But to repeat in there entirity, the Scots do it all the overall best..........to My Never To Be Humble Opinion...:):):)

Indeed the round feel to hand is the key ingrediant. Jerry Fisher once stated something to the effect of, "The difference between a very nice gun and a great gun is a half inch" to paraphrase. He was not speaking about accuracy, He was speaking of a accumulation of a few thousands here, few thousands there, few from that, more to this........i.e. it is all that subtle nuances that make the object (a bolt rifle in my case) come to Life. Proportion and indeed "Roundness" are for sure part of it.

........The small (pre-98) receivers themselves are, well, small. The are more rounded on the top surfaces as well...i.e. smaller ring, smaller bridge, rounder rail. Total circumfernce as well. I think they stock up trimmer, also.

All of this above is the ramblings of a man who likes easy handling, easy to hit with, light to medium Game appropriate chambered bolt rifles. My physical status no longer allows for much recoil anymore, thou at one time the sky was still not the limit. That said a 425 or a 500j, in proportion, would benefit from following the recipe.

-As to the thumb cut, while there utility is indeed there (I have 3 as new brass clips for the pending 8x51mm) my preference for not having them is strictly in my former IN-ability to stock them in a visually pleasing manner.
-Stripper clips, Stephen, you have rekindled a interest in them. In my parring down of firearms and related items, there is currently not a charger cut equipped rifle in-house (save the pending inbound, aforementioned 8x51). I believe that will need to change.
-"the shaping of front and rear sight bases"........while I am boxing up to move across town, I have no access to still photos, but will attempt to remember, find, scan and Post some pictures of bases I made. We should start a thread on them.

...................very much Enjoying this discourse started by mere Fraser bolt rifles....:):):)