Should have read your note closer. I jumped to a conclusion with respect to your question.
Generally, the straighter the comb the better the rifle is at directing recoil straight into the shoulder without additional lift with which to contend. Like tires on your favorite off-road vehicle, the wider the butt, the more area over which recoil will be distributed. The straight comb has to be balanced against the use of a scope and open sights. Many older DG rifles were built just for open sights (more drop at comb). Hence the their perceived recoil can be a bit greater - particularly if such a rifle has been fitted with a scope (affects proper cheek weld - again accentuating perceived recoil). All this straightness and thickness needs to be balanced against the overall ergonomics of the rifle. I carry my hunting rifles much more than I shoot them - particularly one capable of taking DG. LOP, natural alignment of sights (open and optical), feel (For instance, I prefer a more open grip and narrower forearm on a rifle than one typically finds on a lot of rifles made for the US market), and over-all weight (I hate weight) are all more import than the recoil factor. And I have found if the other concerns are correct, recoil somehow seems to be mitigated as an issue. The good news is that 99.9% of those other factors can be ascertained before ever going to a range - or even leaving the gunshop.
If you already have or have access to a rifle that "feels" perfect in hand, make a record of those dimensions - particularly length of pull and drop at heel. Length of pull is the easiest thing to fix on a new rifle (and makes the most dramatic change in "feel"). Many are made too long for my tastes these days. I like crawling up the stock a bit - even on a heavy recoiling rifle. For instance, most of my SxS shotguns have a LOP of 14 3/4 inches. Most of my rifles are 14 1/4. And I hasten to add, that is what works for me, not what I recommend for anyone else. If a new rifle fits otherwise at the shop, a quick trip to the gunsmith for a new pad or a bit of trimming of the butt will quickly resolve the issue.