Wood stock rifles

[gizmo]

Here here Dawg! Most of my everyday North American hunting rifles are composite stocks but all my Safari guns are wood. I just can force myself to buy a classic Safari caliber in a composite, there is something that feels blasphemous about it. Now that being said, with the exception of my 416 the other guns I took to Africa were composites. Go figure right. Too scared to risk the airlines breaking one.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Yes, a run of the mill Boxster can probably out handle an old 911, let alone a GT3. Probably faster, too. That is not the point.

I can appreciate a GT3 for what it is. But then the next new thing will come along. But a true 911 will always turn heads.

A composite stocked rifle is a tool. It is brutally competent, dependable, accurate, and efficient. The lower cost to produce means it can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable price. It resists weather. In an engineering sense, it is a very elegant solution.

But in other senses, it's not elegant at all.

Well said. The old wide body 911 Turbo-look Carerra is stunning and has tons of appeal, and a motorsport soul similar to an old Mauser.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I know that plastic/composite stocks are quite popular these days, but why is it increasingly difficult to find a new classic walnut gun? I understand carrying some black stocks, but keep the normal production of wood guns available.

@Dawg2019
With injection moulding after the initial set up cost you can churn out stocks for a few dollars compared to wood even with modern pantograph machines. Wood costs more and takes longer to produce hence higher cost even with laminate stocks that are hard on machines.
I agree give me a nice walnut stock but plastic is cheaper and easier.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Up until recently I never gave much thought to laminate wood, but the .416 Taylor project rifle I acquired came with a Boyd’s “nutmeg” laminate that has changed my opinion somewhat. It’s growing on me.

@Papa72
Some Boyd's stocks are very nice, I even got a classic sporter walnut for my P14 from them.
Some Boyd stocks are a bit over the top in colour and design like the Evo but as you said they grow on you but then again so does mould.
Bob

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

@Papa72
Some Boyd's stocks are very nice, I even got a classic sporter walnut for my P14 from them.
Some Boyd stocks are a bit over the top in colour and design like the Evo but as you said they grow on you but then again so does mould.
Bob

I’ve got five Boyd’s thumbhole laminated stocks on my working rifles, soulless but functional, all my nice ones have walnut with blued steel
Gumpy

 

[Bandera]

The barrel maybe the heart of the rifle, but the stock is the soul of the rifle.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Nothing like a wood stocked, blued steel rifle with an eight inch long, two inch diameter can hanging off the end.

@Hogpatrol
Wood stock and blues rifle but the can doesn't do the aesthetic any good. A can has its place but in my house ( we can't get cans in Australia anyway) the can is for shitting in not having off a rifle .
I'm just jealous tho cause we can't have them, otherwise I would and aesthetics would go out the door
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I think if folks realized how simple it is to refinish a walnut stock, they'd worry less about hunting them hard. Plus, the dings and dents are the stuff of stories...

@clockwork_7mm_gator
Some times the dings are a reminder of stupidity especially when you forget to tighten the sling onto the stock properly and it comes off while walking around the bush
And how do I know.
Because I was that stupid ONCE.
Bob

 

[Dukeisok]

@Hogpatrol
Wood stock and blues rifle but the can doesn't do the aesthetic any good. A can has its place but in my house ( we can't get cans in Australia anyway) the can is for shitting in not having off a rifle .
I'm just jealous tho cause we can't have them, otherwise I would and aesthetics would go out the door
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

There are Aesthetics and there is practicality, it doesn't bother me but suppressors make a huge difference for my kids and their enjoyment of hunting. As is the general theme my preference remains for blued and wood but I thread the barrels on most rifles I have as it helps my kids get into shooting and frankly it's a lot more pleasant to practice with it. I have a handful of suppressors for high-powered rifles and they are all well made enough that I actually don't have a significant change in point of impact with it on or off.

I haven't brought myself to run one on my 450 rigby yet, but I have one that would do it.

You may not be able to get suppressors, but at least you have box jellies? And healthcare, which we don't do in the US. I love Australia, I studied marine biology at James Cook Uni in my younger days

 

[rdog]

I’ve got five Boyd’s thumbhole laminated stocks on my working rifles, soulless but functional, all my nice ones have walnut with blued steel
Gumpy

I have a number of BOYDS & Ruger factory laminated stocks in classic style & nutmeg colour, do not like thumbhole or the rainbow colour schemes. they are strong & water-resistant a much more appealing stock than the cheap injection molded ones, some i think are made out of liquorice the Houge being the softest.

 

[Milan]

My rifles are mostly blued steel and wood. But I also like stainless and synthetic.

 

[MS 9x56]

I can honestly say in all my hunts with wood stocked rifles I have never once thought about scratching or warping or breaking my stock. The scratches I have put on them remind me of the hunt we were on, and bring a smile to my face.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I’ve got five Boyd’s thumbhole laminated stocks on my working rifles, soulless but functional, all my nice ones have walnut with blued steel
Gumpy

Thumbhole laminate working rifles? Do you hunt with a forklift? Gad, those must be hefty.

 

[Milan]

They are fairly light in the slim hunting stock design.

 

[buffybr]

I prefer wood and blued and most of my rifles are that. But in the last few years I've added a few plastic and stainless.

I think if folks realized how simple it is to refinish a walnut stock, they'd worry less about hunting them hard. Plus, the dings and dents are the stuff of stories...

Refinishing is not that bad, but I have about 80 hours into hand checkering and finishing each of my Fancy walnut stocks so although I use them, I'm very protective of them.
My .300 Weatherby Vanguard with the Richards AA Fancy walnut stock that I made for it. I've used it on 8 hunts in 4 countries. Our world famous "Brickburn" even used it for his Mozambique Sable.

A couple of years ago I bought a Wby Griptonite stock for this rifle so now I am not as worried about using it in foul weather.

Does anyone remember Fajen, Bishop, Flaig or Herter's? I got many seconds from Bishop and Fajen as a kid. I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle in Warsaw, Mo every summer.

I built my first centerfire rifle in 1967 with a Herter's Model U-9 .30-06 barreled action and a Herter's walnut semi inleted stock.

In the late '70s I ordered a Mauser Mark X action and another Mark X barreled action. I had Les Bauska in Kalispell make a tapered octagon. 22-250 barrel for the action, and he rechambered the barreled action to .257 Ackley. I ordered and fit these barreled actions into 2 Fajen fancy walnut stocks.
My Mauser Mark X action/Bauska tapered octagon barrel in Fajen Fancy walnut...

My Mauser Mark X .257 Ackley in Fajen fancy walnut.

I hand checkered all of these stocks with my favorite 5 panel wrap around checkering pattern from Brownell's.

 

[dlmac]

I prefer wood and blued and most of my rifles are that. But in the last few years I've added a few plastic and stainless.

I think if folks realized how simple it is to refinish a walnut stock, they'd worry less about hunting them hard. Plus, the dings and dents are the stuff of stories...

Refinishing is not that bad, but I have about 80 hours into hand checkering and finishing each of my Fancy walnut stocks so although I use them, I'm very protective of them.
My .300 Weatherby Vanguard with the Richards AA Fancy walnut stock that I made for it. I've used it on 8 hunts in 4 countries. Our world famous "Brickburn" even used it for his Mozambique Sable.
View attachment 657697
A couple of years ago I bought a Wby Griptonite stock for this rifle so now I am not as worried about using it in foul weather.
View attachment 657700

Does anyone remember Fajen, Bishop, Flaig or Herter's? I got many seconds from Bishop and Fajen as a kid. I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle in Warsaw, Mo every summer.

I built my first centerfire rifle in 1967 with a Herter's Model U-9 .30-06 barreled action and a Herter's walnut semi inleted stock.

In the late '70s I ordered a Mauser Mark X action and another Mark X barreled action. I had Les Bauska in Kalispell make a tapered octagon. 22-250 barrel for the action, and he rechambered the barreled action to .257 Ackley. I ordered and fit these barreled actions into 2 Fajen fancy walnut stocks.
My Mauser Mark X action/Bauska tapered octagon barrel in Fajen Fancy walnut...
View attachment 657696
My Mauser Mark X .257 Ackley in Fajen fancy walnut.

I hand checkered all of these stocks with my favorite 5 panel wrap around checkering pattern from Brownell's.
View attachment 657698View attachment 657699

Everything about this is beautiful! Wood, finish and just over great craftsmanship.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I prefer wood and blued and most of my rifles are that. But in the last few years I've added a few plastic and stainless.

I think if folks realized how simple it is to refinish a walnut stock, they'd worry less about hunting them hard. Plus, the dings and dents are the stuff of stories...

Refinishing is not that bad, but I have about 80 hours into hand checkering and finishing each of my Fancy walnut stocks so although I use them, I'm very protective of them.
My .300 Weatherby Vanguard with the Richards AA Fancy walnut stock that I made for it. I've used it on 8 hunts in 4 countries. Our world famous "Brickburn" even used it for his Mozambique Sable.
View attachment 657697
A couple of years ago I bought a Wby Griptonite stock for this rifle so now I am not as worried about using it in foul weather.
View attachment 657700

Does anyone remember Fajen, Bishop, Flaig or Herter's? I got many seconds from Bishop and Fajen as a kid. I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle in Warsaw, Mo every summer.

I built my first centerfire rifle in 1967 with a Herter's Model U-9 .30-06 barreled action and a Herter's walnut semi inleted stock.

In the late '70s I ordered a Mauser Mark X action and another Mark X barreled action. I had Les Bauska in Kalispell make a tapered octagon. 22-250 barrel for the action, and he rechambered the barreled action to .257 Ackley. I ordered and fit these barreled actions into 2 Fajen fancy walnut stocks.
My Mauser Mark X action/Bauska tapered octagon barrel in Fajen Fancy walnut...
View attachment 657696
My Mauser Mark X .257 Ackley in Fajen fancy walnut.

I hand checkered all of these stocks with my favorite 5 panel wrap around checkering pattern from Brownell's.
View attachment 657698View attachment 657699

Dad put a Herters stock on my 03A3 in 1962. It had a rollover cheekpiece which was all the rage back then. Horse wreck took it out twenty years later and I picked up another unfinished stock from Les Bauska. Never been able to determine if it was his creation. Very trim and the shape of pistol grip is somewhat unique. By then rollover was fast falling out of style.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I prefer wood and blued and most of my rifles are that. But in the last few years I've added a few plastic and stainless.

I think if folks realized how simple it is to refinish a walnut stock, they'd worry less about hunting them hard. Plus, the dings and dents are the stuff of stories...

Refinishing is not that bad, but I have about 80 hours into hand checkering and finishing each of my Fancy walnut stocks so although I use them, I'm very protective of them.
My .300 Weatherby Vanguard with the Richards AA Fancy walnut stock that I made for it. I've used it on 8 hunts in 4 countries. Our world famous "Brickburn" even used it for his Mozambique Sable.
View attachment 657697
A couple of years ago I bought a Wby Griptonite stock for this rifle so now I am not as worried about using it in foul weather.
View attachment 657700

Does anyone remember Fajen, Bishop, Flaig or Herter's? I got many seconds from Bishop and Fajen as a kid. I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle in Warsaw, Mo every summer.

I built my first centerfire rifle in 1967 with a Herter's Model U-9 .30-06 barreled action and a Herter's walnut semi inleted stock.

In the late '70s I ordered a Mauser Mark X action and another Mark X barreled action. I had Les Bauska in Kalispell make a tapered octagon. 22-250 barrel for the action, and he rechambered the barreled action to .257 Ackley. I ordered and fit these barreled actions into 2 Fajen fancy walnut stocks.
My Mauser Mark X action/Bauska tapered octagon barrel in Fajen Fancy walnut...
View attachment 657696
My Mauser Mark X .257 Ackley in Fajen fancy walnut.

I hand checkered all of these stocks with my favorite 5 panel wrap around checkering pattern from Brownell's.
View attachment 657698View attachment 657699

Beautiful. Your checkering looks great, I wish I could master it, I made a stock a while back but messed up the checkering.

 

[Safari Dave]

If I remember correctly, when "synthetic" (plastic) stocks first came out, you had to pay more for them.

Hardly the case anymore.



I own a few stainless/synthetic bolt actions for hunting in bad weather, but I've never taken one out of the country.


One of my buddies calls them "space-age" polymer guns.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I have never been able to warm up to a synthetic stocked firearm. In general, my wood stock firearms are for the hunting experience and the synthetic ones are for killing.

Safe hunting