Mr. Venters:
In your travels, I assume you have visited both Purdey and Hollands... as I have.

I also assume you have seen the CNC/spark erosion machines they use to help make their products.

Thus, I suggest that the root of your elusive definition does not rely on how the metal or wood is removed or formed, but how precisely and with what degree of art.

As C. G. Bonehill once remarked to the observer of many machines in his manufactory (paraphrase), "Craftsmanship is in the final stroke of the file, and the final stroke of the file still remains."

So far, I can see about 137 angels on the head of this pin...