cra1948,
Have noticed the same thing--and have done a lot of "rough" hunting with a lot of different rifles, both synthetic and wood-stocked--some with very nice wood.
Two points:
1) Some people seem to think beating the snot out of a rifle is proof of something--but dunno what.
2) Many hunters don't understand how much a stock made of good, hard walnut will withstand dents and dings--partly because they've never hunted with such a stock.
