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Are the square bridges there just for looks, or are they there for some function (I know that claw mounts were mounted on some, but in many photos I've seen, the top surface is just checkered or grooved)?

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IMO unless used for sight or scope mounting, they really have no function.
It is interesting that many magnum length actions do have a rear square bridge and seemingly were not chambered in cartidges which are customarily scoped - as in dangerous game cartridges.
My open sight 416 has a square bridge, but my scoped 280 Halger did not and they are both original magnum length Mauser actions.
So, in answer to one of your questions, yes, they did make non-square bridge magnums.
Today, the square bridge is desireable due to rarity, and I assume all square bridge actions are looked at as pure sporter models - not military based rifles. Functionally though, no difference.

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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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