Enjoyed the posts on this thread for sure. Things sure have changed these days. Seems the guns like the Remington 700 and 1100 I bought back in 1980 are more like "custom" models today with the walnut and high gloss bluing but costs of walnut and more custom touches have forced makers to cut back. Only synthetic stocked one I bought was my Ruger Compact in 22 mag. which I am very satisfied with for woods varmint hunting. Often see my old standbys selling for reasonable money on the used gun racks these days.