are there any rifles out there, from the factory, or atleast a company out there that makes walnut thumbhole stocks instead of laminated? im looking for a varmint rifle and if i cant find one with a nice walnut thumbhole ill either get one with a composite stock and replace it, or just deal with the laminate.

I've mostly only seen synthetics in thumbholes, or laminates, I personally love wood, or synthetic, I've seen some nicer/attractive synthethics, I never see a lamninate I find attractive. Of course some syntethics look horrible too. I think functionally synthetic takes the crown followed by laminate and lastly wood. I know for this reason some guys prefer a laminate over wood, and find it more attractive than a synthetic, I just wonder how much theyve looked at synthetics, there are some nicer ones out there. So maybe consider a nice thumbhole synthetic?

I can see a thumbhole being comfortable too, though I feel theres nothing wrong with a traditional design, what am I missing here?

yeah theres nothing wrong with traditional design, but i love the comfort of thumbholes, and i think they almost allow you to shoot a tiny bit more accuratley

I am a fan of thumbhole stocks, and have one in synthetic on my ML and two in laminate (a 10/22 and my 870 deer gun) Iit will be hard finding them in solid wood and I don't know that I've seen any. Because the stock gets so "small" near the receiver, and given the direction of the grain, it would be prone to breakage due to the recoil. The laminates provide the required multi-directional strength.

I too like thumbholes. More so on some firearm styles than others. I'd suggest checking with Boyd's or better yet, Wenig.