I toured the SKB/Weatherby factory while stationed in Japan in 1983 and hand selected a Weatherby Athena that had feather crotch Claro almost identical to the above blank. Shot the whatever out of that gun. The wood held up fine. Maybe that blank wouldn't work for a Super Fox with a straight grip, but it sure would work for a lot of things. I do think while moving the pattern around to get the most strength you might be forced take out some of the feather. Hard to have it both ways.

foxes rule