A little of both, I wanted to use the block my Father brought home years ago.
Always wanted a 30/40 Krag RB just needed to save and sell off a few other rifles to afford the Gunsmith to do the barrel. It was his idea for the heavy barrel, glad he thought of it.
Once I got the barrel action back I starting searching for a way to make the Buttstock work for scope use. Found a picture that a stock maker was using for the little Martine Cadet with a scope, Thought to myself that should work. For the forearm I always had a problem with the barrel resting on my hand and not the forearm on the sporter type RB., so I wanted to make a longer forearm.
The inlaid was something I had seen on a rifle at a Museum somewhere and liked the look.
The pattern for the craving was something I just came up with. The buffalo was a after thought for a critter that would fit the old west look. Anyone that really knows me well, knows my love of the Civil War and Old West History which we have a lot of here in Missouri.
So it all just came together.