Where has all the wood gone?

Since I primarily collect antiques, classics and milsurps, wood stocks predominate.
A few ARs, a Nylon 66 and 77, a brace of Hi-Points, a couple of laminates, a couple of folding stocks, some plastic and rubber grips, that's all.
Everything else is wood.
Then again, I rarely buy new guns... .

J-Bar said:

Beautiful wood grain, like good wine, whiskey, jazz, and literature, requires exposure and maturity to be appreciated. That’s why us old farts like good wood, wine, jazz, and classic books.

I have faith that younger, newer shooters will evolve in their preferences. Finely figured walnut, like those other things, will always be appreciated by those with good taste. And if they don’t, their loss.

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I don’t know my uncle who is in his mid/late 70’s has been trading his wood furniture in for synthetic over the past decade.

Only his WW2 antiques still have wood furniture on them.

Everything else his Remington 700, his model 70 feather weight ect has been swapped out for synthetics. And he is not a weight sensitive guy army when he was a young buck and mining engineer for most of his adult life, he is built sturdy. He just likes them better.

To quote him “they all go bang”

Poper said:

So sad....

I was into Sportsman's Warehouse the other day to pick up a shotgun I bought through the online store. The gun racks were plumb full. Not a single rifle with a wood stock. Maybe 1 out of 3 or 1 out of 4 shotguns had a wood stock.

Is it all cutting of production costs or are our kids completely devoid of any sense of aesthetics?
If I can't have wood on my rifle, with very few exceptions, I probably don't want it.

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Saw the same thing at Rancho's Bass Pro; every single rifle there, save for a couple lever guns, had synthetic stocks. Most of the shotguns had walnut stocks and blue finishes. Sign of the times.

A good synthetic stock has several advantages over the traditional wood stock. It is a fact that they have taken over nearly all of the firearm industry.

I still love my wood stocked rifles and miss seeing nice walnut stocked rifles on the shelves/racks. It is sad to see them go.

I have a mix, but wood dominates. The only one I have changed out the stock for 90's era Ramline poly is a lefty Rem 700. The others are "as issued" from the factory.

As long as people buy guns and love to shoot I couldn't care less what the metal is stocked in.

Mark_Mark said:

my 45-70 pride and joy. I have more expensive guns but I treat this like gold!

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Ditto. The guy i bought it from installed front and rear XS Ghost ring sights, they are no longer made for the no 1.

Handshaker said:

Ditto. The guy i bought it from installed front and rear XS Ghost ring sights, they are no longer made for the no 1.
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nice!!! you would not believe what I paid for my #1 about 6 years ago…. $650 used, with not a scratch

I bought a Daystate Red Wolf air rifle. It is known for having a nice looking red plastic stock.
Couldn't bring myself around to the plastic so I ordered it with a walnut stock.
I looks much better.

I like a good wood stock with a nice blued finish but for my hunting rifles I will take synthetic and stainless. I will spend several days in the mountains hunting and the synthetic and stainless rifles are easier to maintain and less prone to rust when in the field for several days. The last 22 I bought I went wood and blued cause I liked the look.

borrowedtime69 said:

I mostly only buy synthetic furniture for my guns, but all of my serious guns including my hunting rifle and my handguns must be weather proof as much as possible. I do have a few that are wood but those were heirloom guns from dad. These I treasure.

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Same here and I am 68 yo. I just about will not buy any gun that is not synthetic/laminate and stainless steel. I prefer it for both looks and use. And apparently so do most others.

3C

.308 Norma said:

It's neither. I've said I don't know how many times that my retirement rifle, the custom built 308 Norma Magnum that I paid for with my first two Social Security checks, is stainless with a granite-grey synthetic stock - because I ordered it that way.
Aesthetics?!? I like brunettes and '68 GTOs. When it comes to guns, I prefer the "utilitarian" look .

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Aren't brunettes pretty utilitarian? I always thought redheads were the value-added options.

gobsauce said:

On the other hand, I grew up on the El Paso/Juárez border in the early 2000's. Y'know, when cartel violence was at an all time high? Gun violence? We lost friends and family in a crossfire once. So they were frowned upon.

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That is a shame about Juarez. My family visited it dozens of times in the 70s/early 80s. Lots of great food at the Florida Cafe, several pairs of handmade boots over the years. Its hard to see it now.

citizenconn said:

That is a shame about Juarez. My family visited it dozens of times in the 70s/early 80s. Lots of great food at the Florida Cafe, several pairs of handmade boots over the years. Its hard to see it now.

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Grew up in west Texas. Made several trips to El Paso and across to Juarez. Wish I could get those boots, again. Lot different in the '70s than now. Shame

I’m old school, a hunting rifle has a walnut stock, and deep lustrous blueing.

JCooperfan1911 said:

Because for various reasons the new culture of gun buyers are obsessed with killing, war, tactical, combat and not much else. Black plastic and alloy sells. Blued steel and walnut stays on the shelf, it’s not edgy enough.

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You do realize that for anyone under the age of 30 they very likely do not remember, nor were they alive, at a time when our country wasn't in a hot war with constant reminders in daily life about terrorism. It has completely changed the mindset from when we grew up.

Speedo66 said:

Some people here are parroting the makers who talk about warping, splitting, etc. and how synthetic is superior. I've been shooting for over 60 years and have yet to have any of these supposed problems with any of my wood stocked guns

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I take you haven't hunted waterfowl or spent time going from hot humid summers to below zero winter hunts. I had shotguns basically fall to pieces with loose stocks and cracks after a while. I've got a few which never see bad weather with nice wood stocks. All of the real hunting gear is synthetic.

I'm 50 and I'll take a wood stock any time I can even get one for the firearm. I have a couple that are composite material stocks. They have no soul IMHO, a heartless thing that is not to be really cared for very well is how I see them. Beater guns. and at that, well - if you knock a plastic stock on a doorframe or whatever, no concern. I whack a wood stock hard and put a nice ding in it, I'm kind of ticked off at myself.

I don't do severe weather, but - I'm sure just putting a good coat of wax and sealing the wood really well, not sure you need anything more weather resistant than that. I'll like plastic stocks when I like plastic chairs at my dining room table. but, they sure are hard to put scratches and dings in, but - they look like crap to start with, so - does that even matter?

citizenconn said:

That is a shame about Juarez. My family visited it dozens of times in the 70s/early 80s. Lots of great food at the Florida Cafe, several pairs of handmade boots over the years. Its hard to see it now.

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My uncles still make boots. Chances are you bought from them. In the 90's , they made belts for Dickeys, Luchese, and a bunch of other companies. Might even apply to you, @Seedy Character .


Florida Cafe isn't there anymore, but there are plenty of places that have stood the test of time. El Bombero, for one.

illinoisburt said:

You do realize that for anyone under the age of 30 they very likely do not remember, nor were they alive, at a time when our country wasn't in a hot war with constant reminders in daily life about terrorism. It has completely changed the mindset from when we grew up.



I take you haven't hunted waterfowl or spent time going from hot humid summers to below zero winter hunts. I had shotguns basically fall to pieces with loose stocks and cracks after a while. I've got a few which never see bad weather with nice wood stocks. All of the real hunting gear is synthetic.

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I said for various reasons, not saying it’s right, not saying it’s wrong neither.

But the media has got people so whipped up in a frenzy, war and tactical is just about all the current gun buyers care about. Sport and fun take the back burner. It’s all defense defense defense, tactical tactical tactical.

With a couple exceptions, wood is an absolute prerequisite.

JCooperfan1911 said:

I said for various reasons, not saying it’s right, not saying it’s wrong neither.

But the media has got people so whipped up in a frenzy, war and tactical is just about all the current gun buyers care about. Sport and fun take the back burner. It’s all defense defense defense, tactical tactical tactical.

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I don’t see a single thing wrong with that. Because once you get bored of collecting AR’s and Go-Fast kits. You gravitate to the shooting sports

Mark_Mark said:

nice!!! you would not believe what I paid for my #1 about 6 years ago…. $650 used, with not a scratch

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Well we both got a great deal, mine was mint as well without a scratch. I bought it in 2020 for 700 from a guy that didnt know its value. Its is close to being unfired or fired very little. What i love about 45-70's is usually people are afraid to shoot them do they are usually in great condition. I will one up you, lol. In 2019 i also got a marlin 1895 GS SS 45-70 for free, lol. A large sporting goods store you all know screwed up my billing when i paid for it online, I tried to get them to recharge my card and after a year and dozens of phone calls to them, i gave up trying. Now its mine I now have a big loop lever on it as well as the XS rail.

Jeff olson said:

With a couple exceptions, wood is an absolute prerequisite. View attachment 1078204 View attachment 1078205

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I see a rare M1941 Johnson Rifle!!!! were did you get that thing?

Jeff olson said:

With a couple exceptions, wood is an absolute prerequisite. View attachment 1078204 View attachment 1078205

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Very Nice, i hope you dont have any young kids around, they might decide to play Gun Dominoes..

Handshaker said:

Well we both got a great deal, mine was mint as well without a scratch. I bought it in 2020 for 700 from a guy that didnt know its value. Its is close to being unfired or fired very little. What i love about 45-70's is usually people are afraid to shoot them do they are usually in great condition. I will one up you, lol. In 2020 i also got a marlin 1895 GS SS 45-70 for free, lol. A large sporting goods store you all know screwed up my billing when i paid for it online, I tried to get them to recharge my card and after a year and dozens of phone calls to them, i gave up trying. Now its mine I now have a big loop lever on it as well as an XS rail.
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you Win Twice! $700 for a #1 45-70 in 2020 is GOOD! free is even BETTER