Yes, beautiful rifles, in a "form follows function" kind of way. Very purposeful. I can certainly appreciate their utility. I see lots of guys shooting similar rifles at my club, everything from the very popular .22 bench rest competitions to the equally popular precision rifle competitions.
As you guys know by now, my tastes run a little bit differently. When someone says "beautiful rifle", I think of nice wood, deep shiny blueing, and that sort of thing. Here is my taste in a "pretty" bolt gun:
Model 98 Mauser action in .375 H&H Magnum. English walnut stock, shadow line cheek piece, ebony forend tip, color case hardened grip cap. Traditional express sights with the fixed leaf sighted for 100 yards and two more folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards. This has proven to be an exceptional hunting rifle for me, the one I reach for when I know I'll be wading into the thick stuff, going after the big stuff. I guess in that way, its form follows its function as well.
What a wonderful spectrum of rifles on display here. I know you guys are having as much fun with yours as I am with mine. Good stuff.