Since it was my comments that likely triggered this debate, I'll put my 2 cents in as to how I saw the wood issue that finally caused my decision.

This gun was ordered with a $700 option, above the base price, for "exhibition Turkish".



This is the closest example of a Turkish blank I could find to match from Hunterbid.com . It's not a perfect match, but I think it is very close in grade. It has the color and figure fairly close. Debateable, yes. But splitting hairs I think you'll all agree. Both the RBL wood and the Hunterbid wood have little if any black line marbling and have similar color/figure/fiddleback/wavyness.







Well that blank is a $240 "Flash Buy" blank. http://hunterbid.com/cgi-bin/woodauction/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=3881


For $700 or less at Hunterbid, you can have much nicer wood. Remember, you are buying retail at Hunterbid, so it should be at least a fair comparison IMO. Wood blank vs. upgrade option.
http://hunterbid.com/cgi-bin/woodauction/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=3711

http://hunterbid.com/cgi-bin/woodauction/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=3710

http://hunterbid.com/cgi-bin/woodauction/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=3988

http://hunterbid.com/cgi-bin/woodauction/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=3709

http://hunterbid.com/cgi-bin/woodauction/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=3765

http://hunterbid.com/cgi-bin/woodauction/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=3871

http://hunterbid.com/cgi-bin/woodauction/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=3932

JMO, but when the RBLs are built as advertised, shown, and like Mark's, they are worth every bit of their price. My concern was quality related then the wood issue on top. Quality issues are typically variables e.g. you get some good ones and some bad ones. I don't want a bad one nor one with lower grade Turkish or whatever species wood. CSM showed me they were inconsistant in quality. BTW, my order was $4,000.00 with my options. I expected the checkering and engraving to look at least as good as my $2400 Citori 525 Sporting.