Gunner500,
I agree with you on fitting the rifle to the shooter. And you are correct on size - I stand 5'10" and weigh 170 pounds(was 145 back in high school) and the 1886 fits fine. Larger or smaller folk may need to make changes in stock configuration and length.

The era and region of gun design can also influence the final design. For instance, my Parker shotguns are based on a pre 1900 design and for shooters living in the Northeast USA where bird hunting was a cool weather sport. Therefore the standard butt stock length fits me ONLY when I am wearing a winter coat under a padded shooting vest. In Texas dove season, I must use a slip- on pad to get proper stock length. A person with longer arms may have this problem in all seasons.

CRS, NRA Benefactor Life Member, Whittington Center, TSRA, DWWC, DRSS
Android Reloading Ballistics App at http://www.xplat.net/