Photo 1.  This is what the top of the forearms looks after the shaping and sanding to 220 grit.  That top edge has thinned considerably.  All this adds up to a slimmer look without loosing a full sized forearm grip area.  The grip width is still 1.300 inches wide and about the same in height.

Photo 2.  The thumb nail or panels, at the back of the forearm, shown from the top.  Each side flares out starting from the frame.  I talked with Tony Maddox and ask if he could measure this area on his Walker for me.  On his Walker the wood was  1.320 at the frame and out to 1.460 at the from edge of the thumb nail. My frame width will end up just over 1.300 so these numbers worked on my rifle.  I did make mine longer though.  His were .860 long mine are just under an inch long.  I liked them slightly longer.  They do need to be the same length, from the action frame, and project evenly on each side from the surrounding wood. 
These panels are still being worked during the sanding.  I never finish the panel side until all the sanding it completed.  The edges always get rounded slightly, even being careful while sanding.  By waiting, the panel lines will sharpen back up when they are finished out. 
Also notice, I put a slight curve to the panel sides. This curvature will start out fairly flat at the frame and and increase as it approaches the front.  This should become more obvious after they are finished.
Bob

AJ wrote on Oct 9^th, 2025 at 6:52pm:



I appreciate the comments.  Thanks.

I certainly know and understand that there is more than one way to approach building a gun, so I just like to state this is how I build.  There a many others that probably build completely different and build wonderful guns.

There are also folks out there that may want to start building a gun but have no idea how to start...I know because I was there 30+ years ago.  This is why I have decided, on this forearm, to go into the depth I go when building, and try to explain it better than I have in the past.  There is pretty much nothing that isn't planned for in advance.
Bob