I just noticed a hairline crack in the ebony fore end tip of my 416 Rigby. The stock is way nice, having been done by Sterling Davenport sometime in the long ago.
What should be done to stabilize it?

take the metal out of the stock - ck every thing is dry then check to see if the barrel is making any contact with the tip if so float the tip then see if the crack goes through the wood or is A surface crack - to fix the crack get a runny epoxy like the original accraglas take a tapered shim and drive it into the crack to widen the crack smear rhe epoxy in the crack and use a gebtle airstream from a compressor to blow some of the epoxy into crack pull the shim out and clamp the tip together -use a paper towel soaked in vinegar to wipe off the excess epoxy

However, Ebony is very oily inside, so the oil must be removed before the epoxy is applied. I use the Universal Solvent (in my world), Xylene. It will remove oil, paint, and eat your liver. Banned in California. So it must work. It does.

Thanks!
The barrel is not at this time free floated, simply flawlessly inletted. I’ll get it’s pants off and have a look.
I hate to change anything because it such a superb shooter. One step at a time.

In which case Id work from the inside out remove a small amount of ebony, pinch the side together carefully, an use a oil remover with the density of water, glass it from the inside to the outer side, clamp it wide. Wipe it clean and let it dry. I might then cross drill it and glass in a very small threaded cross bolt or pin within the tip (not to show) for strength...Done right it will not show. no need to free float a custom inletted gun IMO..