I was also hoping we'd get to see a pic of the take-down hardware. Thanks for that.
I like your ideas for making some cosmetic changes to this gun. But there are a couple things I'd suggest considering. The barrel looks, to my eye, to be too short and slim for the forearm, and the grip needs to be more open than your rough draft illustrates. Instead of just shortening the forearm and installing an ebony tip, I think this would be a good place to consider a Mannlicher type carbine configuration. The forearm wood is fairly plain, so it wouldn't be too difficult to find a stick of walnut with matching grain and color. Just a thought.
