[deep thinker]

Hi all long time no see, interesting project you have going here, I really would have liked to be here from the beginning.
About the handle, Id say a slightly forward handle will suit the gun well. With euro guns being mostly made of ali or carbon the gun tip is not that heavy. A timber construction is in essence much heavier and solid than both other materials used to make guns so the slightly forward handle will apart from being aesthetiacally pleasing also allow for better distribution of weight and give you a well balanced gun when in the water...

Another nice idea mite be to have a double handle with a rear trigger handle and another one set forward and from that one to give you a similar effect but this will limit the movement and speed of the gun to the hunters ability to manouver both hands simultaniously.