I've waited a while to see if one of my Clients would post a"Final Soultion" to your Problem of Exposed Top-Strap. He had the same problem on a Westly Richards"De Lux" 375 H&H DB Rifle.Both sides of the Strap had been snapped off, who knows how? It had been in a Indian Prince's Collection since the 1920's. When I examined the Rifle it had been Doctored-Up with Plastic wood, not a bad job as plastic wood repairs go!!The O/A condition of the Cased Rifle was a good 85%(That was stated by the'Dealer' who cashed the Cheque for $30k plus.) I removed the Ironwork from the Stock, cut away all the P/W.Dovetailed new wood to both sides, Had to look Long& Hard for French to blend in with the Orig, Stock Grain Texture & Colour, Re Inletted action and top-tang, shaped to conform with balance of =Head of Stock, Wet & Dried 7 or 8 times finished at 600 grit using "Slacum" to fill the Grain as I sanded down for the last time,(I had used 'Colour gradually' each time I sanded-down so It blended in, I dont like to use the word"Perfect".......but I was "Chuffed"...London Gunmaker's Slang for thr'P'word!!!!So was the Client! and I'm sure the 3 Cape Buffs he Killed on two African trips were 'Happy that I had Repaired the Stock on the Rifle that had Killed them!!!! I have also repaired a VHE 12b Parker stock the same way, for a 80yr old'Gent'in exchange for 6 Heinekens..Hope this method will work on the stock in the photo. ..CC/dt
