Winter Projects

Gil Martin · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: Winter Projects

Folks,
Looks like a long time until spring, so I have started a winter project. Yesterday, I stopped in a gun shop near where I work to get a can of powder. They did not have what I wanted and I started to leave. This is a pistolsmith shop, but there were a pile of used rifles and shotguns in a corner of the shop. I started going through the stack. There was a K31 Schmidt-Rubin in bad shape and overpriced. Most of the guns were overpriced.

Under the stack was what looked like a sporterized Mauser. Turns out is was a sporterized 1903 high number Springfield (made by Springfield) with a hang tag price of $200.00. The exterior metal and stock were loevly, but the bore was ruined and dark. I offered $150.00 and got it for that price.

I have a Midway barrel in .270 Winchester that will fit the 1903 and I am waiting for the local gunsmith to open today so I can drop it off. The 'smith is getting caught up on his backlog of work and assures me he can do this rifle in a few weeks. That is my winter project. What are you good folks doing? All the best...
Gil

codybrown · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:58 am Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

I was thinking about getting a wood blank and making a new stock for one of my rifles.

KYGunner · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

I have been kicking around doing a new stock from a blank. Where would you get a blank? Richard's Microfit has some any ideas?

codybrown · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

Kinda where I was looking. I really want a maple stock. I was thinking about actually going out and finding a down maple tree and cutting myself a wood blank from that. I have a wood furnace in my basement, so it should dry relatively quickly. It's like having my own little kiln!!

ElyBoy · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

I have a few ducks to mount, but have to get off of my butt to order the forms etc. from Van Dyke's.

I also have to carve and make some grips for my old Herter's .22 Revolver made in "West Germany"

On top of that, I have around fifty Crosses to make for a Nursing Home that I promised to do. I make these out of Cherry Wood, and then rub finish them like I would a fine gun stock.

Eric

roklok · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:37 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

I am making a stock for an old .410 my brother in law has that is missing stock. Done with inletting, almost done with shaping, now need to sand and finish it.

Gil Martin · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

KYGunner,
You might find a stock blank at Boyds. They have a website at www.boydsgunstocks.com. All the best...
Gil

SingleShotLover · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:28 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

Slowly working on restocking two of my Ruger #1s. I started these projects in Spring of 2006, but they got sidelined when I lost the battle with a bench saw and almost cut off my left forefinger. Just now getting enough strength back in my left hand to feel confident enough to continue. Lots of work yet to do including final fitting and checkering. The last one I did took over a year simply because I felt no need to rush the job and botch it.

codybrown · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

That's some nice work you have going there. Where did you get the wood from?

SingleShotLover · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

Both stocks came from Great American Gunstocks. I have been very pleased with their selection and service.

codybrown · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

What kind is that one pictured above? I'm looking at all of them, and I don't see a plain jane one.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

They pretty much specialize in better-grade stocks, but they do offer utility, replacement-grade also. Both of the stocks pictured are walnut with the fiddleback one considered to be of higher quality, though I personally think the other one is interesting because of the mineral-streaking. It is destined for a 22/250 that I eventually am planning to have rebarreled to a 9.3 X 74R...unless I talk myself out of it as usual! As mentioned earlier, I have had good luck with them and they have proven to be very accommodating and helpful.

Below is another stock in "Claro" walnut that I got from them several years ago. It is actually another ongoing project because I intend to strip the "poly" finish (why I did that I'll never know), checker and apply a rubbed-oil finish (which I normally do anyway). The poly is far too maintenance-heavy when it comes to actual use in the brush and is subject to developing hairline cracks in the finish.

codybrown · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

I was actually asking on the stock type, not the wood. I am looking for a fine maple finish with excellant woodgrain. I can't find one without the cheekpieces.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:17 am Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

Sorry for the confusion. The unfinished ones are in the "Alex Henry" style (shadow-line cheek-piece, short forearm and etc.) and the "claro" stock was advertised as "European Classic", whatever that's supposed to mean! Great American has offered stocks in the more classic styles like you are looking for and do offer varying grades of maple. As a matter of fact, I spoke to one of the owners a few months back about the possibility of ordering a maple stock in either fiddleback or quilted grain.

You might also check out Richards Microfit. They offer a large selection of classic stocks in varying states of completion and will also make some custom modifications at your request. I can't comment on their current state of completion since it has been several years since I ordered anything from them; not from dissatisfaction but the fact that they don't offer stocks for Ruger #1s. Back in the early '90s I ordered two XP100 stocks (one in laminate and the other in quilted maple) from them. The quality was quite good and the wood rating was spot-on. The only down-side was that what they claimed as being 90% inletted was a long way from being accurate. I would rate those stocks as only being about 60% inletted...just enough wood removed to show you where to start!

As an aside; maple (as I'm sure you know) is a very light-colored wood. Many people like that look and don't stain it, but if you want a color and finish more like that found on the old muzzleloaders (dark, contrasting grain) you will need to use a water-based stain (maple is too dense for oil-based stains to penetrate well) and an oil finish. That is the finish that I much prefer, but tastes do differ and everyone should have exactly what they like best.

Good luck in your search.

codybrown · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:18 am Post subject: Re: Winter Projects

I am looking to keep it light, and extremely shiny.