Michael, What did Mr. Lion like to use on the butt and front sight? Anything common to the known rifles?
I notice that no 4 and 6 look to have slight gaps behind the top tang. Is this age or inletting that wasnt quite perfect. I ask because I noticed in your book that you comment on the quality of the inletting of a number of the makers covered.
Most of the butt plates are the typical German ones found on other custom rifles of the day both with or without trapdoors with a few Winchesters. The front sights on the 1903's are Armory Issue, the one Mauser has a Winchester mail order Model 95 30-06 barrel on it with Winchester front sight.
I don't know about 4 but 6 I'll be able to tell you in a week or two. I would say that about 80% or more of the pre-war American custom rifles I get to look at have a chipped or cracked stock at the tang. Like Steve said they should have relieved it, but did not. The English were very well informed in this area and you seldom see a crack even on some of the biggest calibers.
