"Is it gold plated or a reflection?" No, it's silver, G.
The scroll work on it is beautiful!
Anyone who shot both at the last shoot can say, I think, that the 45.70 is harder on the shoulder than the .50 caliber Barrett.
It's not meant to be fired from a bench rest.
It fits the shoulder perfectly in the offhand position.
I shot my friend's L.A.R. Grizzley and it felt like shooting magnum shells out of a 12 gauge.
The worst recoil I had was from my 1886 and some reloads that I bought just for the brass. I have no idea what this guy's recipe was but I know now why he sold them. I won't make that mistake again. At least the rifle escaped without any damage. I probably would have been fine but it just caught me unawares.