Hi Michael,
Mauser was also in the business of selling his rifles. I do not think that it is coincidence that the gas relief cut in the left rail is in the ideal place for it to provide thumb clearance for loading from a stripper clip. By getting a patent on it as a safety feature, he could prevent other designers from making a similar clearance cut and thereby have an advantage in the marketplace. He may have felt that if he just called it a thumb cut he may not have stood as good a chance of having the patent granted. The cut could be located anywhere along the left rail and still serve the gas venting purpose.
Just food for thought.
You shot your Lovell yet with the new brass?
John
