Head gunsmith’s response:

“I talked with Jake (gunsmith) and also looked over the stock.

Although I agree with your comment about having proper "surface connection" for spreading out the recoil absorption on wood, I disagree with the "ruined" comment. I own and have seen many of these stocks with small gaps, etc and it does not create cracks. Rather, the inside, non visible area is where your recoil support needs to be on these models...also the bottom of receiver.

I have fixed many LC's with minor cracks, and usually I throw lots of Acraglas on the inside around the trigger group, and top lever area which actually contacts wood and is responsible for support. The trigger guard is the same way, it touches the wood, but is not a viable crack area under recoil.

Jake fixed the cracks earlier for you pretty much for free, because we usually charge $350-400 for case coloring, and he charged 350 total for repairs and for the coloring. You brought the wood back a 2nd time for repair, the cracks were actually in a different spot than before. He fixed them, relieved the area around the side plates because the insides had many small cracks starting. Usually, that is how we fix them, and then we sometimes will add Acraglas to the area....but most of the time it is more appealing NOT to add the Acraglas as it gives a cheapened look to the wood. He chose to not do this on yours as he thought it would look better.

If you want, I can add the Acraglas to those areas he sanded back and try to get as close a match to the wood as I can. But I truly felt he did the correct procedure and the stock is far from ruined..Rather, he did a great job on the earlier cracks, and they did not return.

Mike”

Good response or BS? I value all of your opinions and thank you for your feedback. I’d like be fairly treated and to treat others fairly, too.