Thanks all for the great thread. There is just something timeless about a well used steel and wood rifle of that era. Today, you can produce a laser cut fleur-de-lis checkered rifle with painted bottom metal, they look nice and shiny in the rack, but lack the aging characteristics of real steel and good simple walnut IMO.
I lost count of the centerfire rifles that have come through my hands, well over 50. The 3 Pre-64's (all 30-06's) needed nothing, no bedding, tweaking, etc. All shot sub-MOA and fed/extracted as they should. Maybe I've been fortunate but I will never be without one.
