TVM rifles

[stone knife]

   Maybe good shooters but too thick in the forestock for me.A little slab sided too. Must be a lot of web between barrel and RR channel.After owning a few customs,for me, it would be stepping backwards. Not arguing their shootability, I just don't like their looks. My $0.02 ...

Can you elaborate more on this?

[Leatherbelly]

   Maybe good shooters but too thick in the forestock for me.A little slab sided too. Must be a lot of web between barrel and RR channel.After owning a few customs,for me, it would be stepping backwards. Not arguing their shootability, I just don't like their looks. My $0.02 ...

Can you elaborate more on this?

Stone Knife,
 Can't really elaborate, it's just my observation.Check out the distance between the barrel channel and the RR channel (the web).If it is more then a 3/8ths  inch,it assures the fore-end will be thick.(I'm looking at the forty cal. pictured.) I like them real slim in the forend. After all, the barrel supports the wood, not vise versa. Sorry, I've been spoiled rotten with custom builds for the last 20 odd years.

[Daryl]

I think CB's measurement is off a bit.  From the bottom of the ramrod channel, to the bottom flat of the barrel, for him (& others), should be no more than about 3/16" to 1/4". It should only be thick enough for the barrel escutchions & pins and no more. When making guns largely by machine or perhaps making them fast, this 'fineness', 'frailty' seems difficult to do.  It is easier to make them a bit heavier, chunky, stronger in the wood- more like a production gun.

All guns weren't perhaps uniformly skinny or frail - how much 'licence' does one give for interpretation?  It's pretty much all speculation and personal wants or preferences.  Some are set in stone while others more lenient.

[Leatherbelly]

   Stone,
   Just want to add, for a "house made" cottage industry rifle,TVM is probably your best buy out there. If it were me ordering one,I'd ask for one in the "white" so I could finish it  and dress it up better. I've heard that Tip Curtis makes some sweet rifles in the "white" and it might be an option to compare with.
   To see what I mean about forestock thickness,check out the likes of Bill Shipman,Mark Whelen and Mike Gahagan's creations. (these names are off the top of my head as there are many others that reflect this trait) Note how slim and birdlike their stocks are.  That's where I'm coming from in this comparison.  
    

[Leatherbelly]

   Yes Daryl, I was being too generous with the 3/8ths measurement. More like a 1/4".

 And yes, It's probably safer for a production line gunshop to drill them out thicker then to risk a drill running out of a thinner design and having a "firewood" stock. 
  Like I said Daryl, I've been spoiled...by you know who!