Dave,
Thanks for explaining how the standing breech is supposed to be fit, and your photo. Shadows in photography can make things look different from what they actually are.
Thanks to all for all the nice comments, this was a fun project and the client was very well pleased. Nicely figured walnut is one of my most favorite woods to work with. t
the finish is a semi gloss spar varnish thinned and applied in 8 very thin coats. A light wash of laurel mountain walnut stain was applied and highlighted with trans tint dyes.
The barrel was boiled in a dilute solution of water and Clorox for about 15 minutes then scrubbed aback and finished with rubbed back super blue. Ron