In the training of a stockmaker of old....one removed only the wood needed for the metalwork to fit in. Just look inside a best sidelock actioned gun and see the precision of the inletting done there. I have had in my hands a percussion rifle made in England circa 1860 with inletting so precise and smooth even a CNC machine would be envious. However even a CNC machine can't make a square corner in 3-D. I strive to get my inletting as nice consistently as you see here. It also lends to the strength of the wood as you are removing only wood needed for the metal to fit in. Fast, easy install, and by machine just didn't exist then. Beautiful example of the stockmakers skill and art.
