When I was in my 20s, I thought the notches- the Alex Henry fore-end- looked dumb. I preferred the look of the beavertail fore-end. Now my thinking is reversed. But I also like the way the AH fore-end feels too. That may affect why I like their looks. I suspect those notches may have originated with the use of fore-end sticks or other shooting support device. I look forward to hearing from someone with more knowledge.
