Ordered factory wood, fugly checkering and all, from NAC/Gun Parts this morning. Hope it is at least as presentable as yours, Romac. I've seen some real "orange crate" wood on these Savage/Valmets in the past.
I don't mind that on a beater, but hope that I get a stock that somewhat matches the forend and doesn't have ziggly cross grain in the wrist where the stamped checkering crushes the wood and makes a very weak spot.....badly laid-out softwood plus "iron on" checkering equals broken wrist in my experience.
However, with NAC you get what you get when you get it at all (I've been dealing with them since the 1950s and I liked it better when I lived about 40 miles from them and could pop in and finger the merchandise....). Pray for me....