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Let me add, btw, that if any of the budding or active gunsmiths who frequent here want to study a rifle maker, you could do no better than Fraser and this rifle in particular. Observe the lines of this rifle. Balanced and flowing but utterly purposeful. The swept grip of the stock, the trim and tapered forend. The low mounted scope. The very tasteful and integrated scroll work. This rifle was meant to be carried and used and when not in use to be an object of pride for the owner. That guy Fraser knew something about rifle building that few others seem to grasp. Seems today, most rifle smiths order a barrel, screw it into an action, buy the most expensive and garish piece of wood, whittle it out in the basic shape of a stock, sends the pieces out to get scratched up by the engraver, marries it all together and declares it another masterpiece. Look but don't touch! When you see a Fraser, and a few other early makers, you WANT to touch it. You want to pick it up, heft it to shoulder, sight on some far ranging animal unseen by anyone else around, and then sit down with the rifle in hand and admire it in the light of the fire anticipating the next opportunity to go afield with the rifle. I wouldn't doubt that at least some of the wood wear on the rifle above was from the original owner stroking the rifle and feeling for the imperceptible line separating wood and metal. If you've seen or own a Fraser, you know of what I speak.

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That's the idea!

And you nailed the reason why I do it!