Sometimes pictures are deceptive, with shadows that make inletted areas look like gaps in the bearing surface. Scratches can look like cracks. What looks like a piece of wood inletted into the bottom of the stock head might be nothing more than the varnish that's flaked away from the stock bearing surface. I do agree the forearm wood is darker than the buttstock but that isn't too unusual, and it might just be a function of the lighting used for the pics. That's an ususual area to get piece broken out of the stock head.
For someone interested in an early C grade Fox with straight stock, 30" Krupp and tighter chokes, it would be worth a call to the Gun Room to have the manager there pick up the gun and answer questions directly to the gent who's on the line. Be sure the barrels are good, bores, no corrosion, dents, etc. If the gun seems to check out, 3100 isn't out of line for a C with extractors. Maybe they have some room to negotiate? 3 day inspection would be the way to go.
I really doubt the buttstock was replaced. Especially a C grade straight grip. The long tang C engraved triggerguard would also be very tough to find. The 14-1/8" LOP over the wood is excellent. Would make for a ~15 LOP with a new pad. What are the stock dimensions? Usually the straight grips are nice and high. That would keep you from having to re-wood it if a purchaser wanted to shoot it a lot.
With all due respect in reply to the comment that "the frame isn't cracked.... yet". I have a few Foxes here that are on the courses regularly and none of them have developed a cracked frame or anything else for that matter. Silvers
