"On many older rifles you will see that the wood has split between the trigger hole and the magazine box hole. Before you glue this back together clamp it until they are together then try both the magazine box and the barreled action. I learned this lesson the hard way."

Michael,

I have seen this on a couple of my latest acquisitions and wonder what you do about it. I take my new ones apart similar to the method you describe, with magazine/trigger guard last. It is fairly evident when looking down into the inletting that there is a crack, which then "disappears" when the trigger guard is removed and the wood comes back together. This thread is great and thanks to all who are sharing.

Thaine

It ain't ignorance that does the most damage, it's knowing so derned much that ain't so! J. Billings