The wood will be a challenge. at least with the bolt handle you can start over/ One trick I plan on trying is building in a carbon fiber box beam to hold things straight. Just how I'm not sure, several optinns. Right now carbon bow laminations and spray urethane foam for the core are in the lead. Should be able to keep it all one piece with no warping worries.
Could be the execution of pictures of pieces I've seen but few inlays to disturb the beauty of the wood and almost no carving. The carving there is has that it grew there look. "The gun's plainness is an elegance all its own due to its well thought out lines." That's where my eye takes me along with good wood. I cannot do that and perhaps never will get the flow between wood and steel just right.
Sounds interesting. I've toyed with the idea also of mortising in a carbon fiber tube or rod also, but never got around to it. Do keep us posted!
The thing is, Mother Nature is a b*tch, and if she wants to warp a fore end she'll do it. There's a lot of force exerted by wood when it warps and a simple structural reinforcement like this may not be sufficient to overcome it. I don't know. I think Art, Sitka Deer, has some thoughts on that.
