Here's one of three almost identical Springfields made for me by Harry and Hal in calibers 7mm Remington Magnum, .375/.338 Winchester Magnum (.375 Taylor) and .458 Winchester Magnum. This one is the .375 Taylor.
I don't know why Hal made the fore end so long, unless it was to protect the left hand from getting hit by the sling swivel during recoil. This was 1964 and the idea of a barrel mounted sling swivel had not yet gained a following in this country.
I saw nothing wrong with it at the time. It looks a bit bizarre now.
