Brent, I don't know what the actual definition of "factory" is when applied to sporting rifles, but have you looked at current Montana-made Win 1885 clones?
I have a C. Sharps that could be upgraded to "Special Sporting" status fairly easily, I think, although the "Thick Side" receiver keeps it out of the realm of "real Winchester" aesthetics. (And the schnabel could use a nose job....).
And have you looked at a recent Merkel K-1? The "plain" ones fit my preference stated above.
As far as I'm concerned, there is one excuse for bolt action rifles, and it is called "prone." Just my opinion, and well worth what you paid for it.
RWTF, I suspect you COULD pull a few horn notes out of "Peter" and call an elk. But if you played more than that, LORD KNOWS what would come to the blind....even in Idaho.
