You state you've seen 3 NID's with 'looseness' and 2 were already center punched on the barrel lock extension...and that you've NEVER seen that with a Smith or Fox.....
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Sounds like you've seen seen a total of 3 NID's that happen to have been swell worn or perhaps also abused NID's and have never seen any LCS's or Fox's subjected to the same conditions. Anyone who would center punch a bolting system to tighten it up is certainly not giving the gun it's proper due in repair. That in itself is abuse. I've seen plenty of loose, off the face LCS, Fox guns. As well as Parker, Winchester, Ithaca, Lefever, European, Brit. and just about any maker you want to name.
Any of the several bolting systems will wear out and become loose. They all will need repair/rebuild at some point given enough rounds and use. That coupled with poor maint. and just general abuse of the action will accelerate the wear. They are machines and machines wear out. To believe otherwise is to be taken in by some grandiose advertising claims, which perhaps were more common but less able to be backed up at the time these guns were made than now.
