A two-position thumb safety works smoothly, crisply and quietly. It disengages sear from trigger. You can manipulate the bolt with the safety on--an option some woods hunters won't like, as it can allow brush to flip the bolt open. Consensus seems to be that a hunter should be able to run cartridges through his chamber with the trigger disengaged.

The forged receiver is machined from one piece of 4140 steel. A two-position thumb safety disengages the sear from the trigger, meaning you can work the bolt with the safety on.

T/C's own 24-inch, medium-contour barrel is button rifled. First chamberings will be in .308 and .30 T/C, with other rounds to follow. A long action begs attention, but Gregg is visibly excited about short rounds, especially the .30 T/C. "We're clocking 3,000 fps with a 150-grain bullet," he enthused. "That's all you'll get from a .30-06."

The new .30, developed in Hornady's lab, is similar to the recent .308 Marlin Express, except the T/C round is rimless and operates at much higher pressures. Cutting-edge ball powders give it high-octane performance. The case is a trimmed .308; like the Express, it measures 1.920 inches, compared to 2.015 for the .308 Winchester. Gregg conceives a new line of cartridges on this hull.

After only a few seconds on my knees begging for live-fire with the Icon, I was driven 20 miles to a quaint, wooded range with enclosed benches. The first volleys of 155-grain Hornady TAP loads delivered a three-shot 1 1/4-inch group. At 200 yards I kept clusters under two minutes of angle in stiff, gusty winds.

The Icon's striker includes a rakishly swept shroud, among few parts of thoroughly modern form.

But the Icon is a hunting rifle; bench shooting won't test field accuracy--the inherent consistency of the hardware in combination with balance, stock fit and trigger release. I attached my Latigo sling, then went prone in front of the line, steadying the crosswire on a 200-yard target. After three rounds, I fired into a 100-yard bull from sitting. To my delight, the prone group was tighter than any I'd shot from a bench. It measured less than 2 1/2 inches across, just over a minute of angle. The 100-yard sitting group fell easily inside two. Luck? I'll credit intelligent stock design and one of the best trigger pulls I've felt on a factory rifle (and the sharp image courtesy of Nikon's variable scope).

"What do you think?" asked Mark when I returned the rifle. I told him that the rifle was a real pleasure to shoot. It balanced well, pointed itself and functioned with a smooth, solid surety any rifleman would appreciate. Fit and finish were first-class. The trigger was truly a joy. In fact, there was little not to like.

The Icon will chamber the .308 Winchester (left) and .30 T/C, a short but potent variation.

Mark, unencumbered by ego, told me to take off the gloves. "Tell me what you'd change."

"OK. That benchrest-stiff action is heavy; I'd machine it to keep rifle weight under 71?4 pounds. Also, the midsection is thick. I'd accept a two-round box for a slimmer feel. You don't need 24 inches of barrel for a .308; 22 is enough. I'd broaden and deepen the comb flutes slightly. You might consider a blind magazine and a thinner bolt handle tighter to the stock, a cylindrical safety button."

They hurried me out the door then, mumbling something about late flights. I didn't get a chance to tell them that the Icon, as is, delivers terrific features in a package that should seduce even those who don't appreciate the indulgence of figured walnut.

In truth, this rifle is brilliantly conceived. The important things have been attended to; functionally and cosmetically, the Icon rates very high marks. Add the surprisingly modest price, and it's clear that Thompson/Center has indeed improved upon a century-old design.