Custom Rifle Stock - Advice Please

[swantrip]

Ladies and Gents, I am in the process of upgrading my Winchester M70SE in .375HH (not pre 64) and I have no real experience with high end firearms. I have never owed a firearm of this stature and have decided to upgrade what I already have to a price point that I can afford.

Now whist I love the M70 to bits and would never part with her, she does occasionally gets lost in the rack. I am playing with the idea of putting her in some new wood, amongst other things.

I have sourced a supplier of exhibition grade English Walnut and also a regarded stock maker here in Australia
but I have some questions about the stock and need advice.

1. Gold Leaf. Does Gold Leaf inlaid onto the stock have any wear issues? I see it is an option on the Rigby Rifles, but is this a false economy?

2. With a high gloss finish, are there any issues I should take into account? I have no doubt I will at some stage scratch my rifle stock in the bush - but do scratches polish out with ease? I know the finish is easy enough to maintain, but does it repair well?

A little about me, I like to use my gear - but it is always looked after and never abused. I do enjoy looking at my things, seeing a bump or bruise and receiving that rush of memory! That is why I would like to upgrade my .375H - it will be an heirloom for my boys to fight over and memory for me!!

Any other info I am missing on building a custom stock (from a customer point of view) would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you guys and kind regards.

 

[ChrisG]

I guess I'll weigh in..

1.) I have no experience with gold leaf on a firearm stock. I have seen gold applied to the metal or to a metal inlay. The only way it wouldn't wear off really quickly is if enough finish was piled up on top of it. Rigby, I am sure, slathers dozens of coats of oil over the top of their stock so that is likely how they maintain it.

2.) I would advise against a high gloss finish... It is pretty much the worst thing you can put on a hunting rifle because:
a. Any dings, scratches, etc. show up like they are fluorescent yellow, and,
b. With a highly reflective stock, you may as well be wearing a strobe light while hunting.

I would use a quality oil finish such as tung oil or Linseed, then follow that up with a paste wax like Renaissance Paste Wax. Put the wax on the stock and all the metal parts, let it dry and buff it off. It will have a sheen to it but it won't look gaudy like a high gloss finish does. (Browning and Weatherby are two of the major culprits of gaudy, glossy stocks.) There is definitely a difference between a polished oil finish and a plastic gloss produced by polyurethane or sprayed on shellac type finishes. Plus oil can be touched up or fully re-coated without any worries.

As long as you have the skill to inlet the stock and carve/rasp it, checker it, and finish it, I would say it is definitely a worthwhile venture!

Check out some of the work @Von Gruff does. He is a highly skilled stock maker.

 

[Shootist43]

Dittos on talking to Von Gruff. If he isn't able to do what you want, perhaps he can recommend a stock maker that can.

 

[nztimb]

Thanks you gentlemen but shipping restrictions are such (thanks to the UN treaty on small arms) that shipping a B/A from AU to NZ for stocking and returning the completed rifle to AU is out of the question.
There are excellent AU stockmakers and I am sure those who have had work done there will be able to offer advice as names etc

 

[swantrip]

Thanks for your input gents. Von Gruff is 100% correct about the debacle of Australian firearms restrictions. I have a great stock maker secured here in Australia with a lovely exhibition grade English Walnut blank. My post is more about rifle furnishings I know nothing about and what I should ask my stock maker to do for me. I am quickly expanding my knowledge of fine rifles!!

 

[Shootist43]

Again I say talk to Von Gruff. He may not be able to do the work, but he can surely tell you what you need to be looking for or the questions that need to be asked and or answered.

 

[nztimb]

Happy to offer any advice from my limited knowledge base but I am conservative in outlook and if there is a " lovely exhibition grade English Walnut blank" then I might be reluctant to advise more than fancy butt plate and depending on caliber either leather covered or checkered steel or possibly heel and toe caps. Depending again on the style the rifle is envisaged, either staking rifle with short fore end as to whether there is fore end tip or not but a nice grip cap and traditional checkering pattern with the only embellishments being the traditional shield for initials behind the grip cap in knickle silver and that is where the gold inlay might go. let the lovey walnut blank be its own embellishment but you could look at some (conservative ) english scroll work on the action without making it too gaudy and take away from what the blank and good craftsmanship offers.
My opinion only as it is your rife and must reflect what you want it to say about yourself