I am always interested in the "reasons why" something is done to a gun. I came across an Iver Johnson Hercules 12 gauge for cheap so I figured,what the heck. One of the reasons it was cheap is because it has a bolt through the wrist. What strikes me funny is that there are no cracks anywhere on the stock or forearm and actually it has a very nice figured stock for a Hercules. The stock isn't even beat up. I don't know if there are any cracks internally in the wrist as I didn't remove the stock yet. However, I did remove the bolt and there is no play or sloppiness with it removed. So what I am wondering is, was this type of thing usually done because of wear or cracks in the wrist area? I am wondering if at some point someone maybe just installed the bolt as a precautionary measure to prevent any cracks or splits from use as I am sure it probably saw some heavy loads through it in its day. I am thinking of gluing in a dowel instead of the bolt and to try and make the modification as invisible as possible.
