Lloyd - all the early American machine made SxS's didn't have draw bolts through the stocks. At least my Remingtons and Parkers don't. Their stocks aren't thick. And for handling - I think they all balance and shoot just fine. The parts for the above mentioned may have been mass produced, but they were all hand fitted to each gun made. IMHO, the parts being " rough finish mass produced " allowed the local gunsmith to order a part and with a little hand fitting could make it work. All the " machine made " parts did was allow the gun to be made more economically. Paul
