Gunstock wood I inherited

[biggyfries]

I want to discuss the gunstocks I got from my Dad when he passed away. He was a hunter and shooter all his life and aquired massive knowlege over his entire lifetime. Then when he retired he put out a shingle as a gunsmith. He was able to create sporterized custom rifles made from Mauser 98's mostly--he did a few others, he was a Win M-70 fan all his life until he began making custom guns, and then he turned to custom Mausers because the material was so pure and substantial.
He developed his ability to make custom gunstocks and even when his hands got arthritic he still was able to turn out works of art, and he knew how to make any rifle vastly more accurate, not by any tricks, but he simply executed the conventional physics of accuracy better than anyone else in these parts. (SE WA state) He had a loyal following of shooters and hunters who knew he was able to make their plans happen. He was able to accomplish much in his little room in the basement of his house.
So he died a few years ago, and we had to dispose of most of his things--I learned to do some work in his shop but I never aquired the skill he had in stock-making. I have eleven stocks he had plans for, they are beautiful walnut stocks, premium quality, but they left-overs we have that will not be used by me, or anyone else that I know of.
I have advertised them in the usual places, I get minimal response. There is a guy in the next town (Pendleton) who does some nice work on rifles, but his work doesn't include woodwork--he guys drop-in parts, does metal work, and his finished product works well, but it looks like a military sniper rifle, (which is what is hot these days) and he has no interest in doing any woodwork. It seems that interest in woodwork in rifles is something that has died out some time ago--true?
Is there a market for these semi-finished gunstocks, or should they be used in the fireplace next winter? Is there any value in them? If you were me, what would you do with them?

 

[Bubbles]

Put them on GunBroker, there are always people looking for nice wood stocks.

 

[sleepyone]

Is there a high-grade walnut Model 70 stock in that pile? Do you know how much he charged to do a stock from raw wood to mounting on a rifle? I'm currently deciding between buying a new Model 70 Featherweight in 30.06 with wood stock or buying a Model 70 Ultimate Shadow in -30.06 to get the 24" stainless barrel knowing that I will have to order a wood stock later.

 

[BADUNAME30]

You've got some truly beautiful wood there biggyfries.
Reading your post took me right back to my shop,( little room in my basement as well), with a rough stock in my hands and my passion to make a beautiful and functioning rifle of it. I too worked with '98's and MK-X '98 copies.
Sadly,a lot of folks want instant 'gratification' with plastic drop ins and too many shooters want that 'look at me i'm a sniper', look.
Can't argue the function of plastic stocks tho. Virtualy impervious to the elements.
I find this ironic tho, 25 years ago i was building rifles ewith composite stocks and they were a hard sell.
PLEASE don't even think of tossin those beautifull stocks you have into the fireplace. ( oh it hurts just thinkin of it )
Be patient and in time i'm sure you will find homes for them.
'sides, What would yer dad think ?

 

[Keb]

If you plan to sell those, let me suggest you wet them then photograph two at a time in cloudy sunlight, and with a better camera.

 

[Al Thompson]

I'll stick this in the Gunsmithing forum. Good luck!

 

[Magoo]

If you plan to sell those, let me suggest you wet them then photograph two at a time in cloudy sunlight, and with a better camera.

Absolutely.

Even in a (no offense) crummy photo it looks like you've got some nice wood there. You should certainly be able to get some money for your efforts.

 

[BBBBill]

Absolutely sell them! Do not burn them.

 

[Lizard1911]

If any of those go anywhere near a burn pile..

I will find you...

 

[biggyfries]

Thanks Al--as to burning them I was kidding--we have had these stocks for so many years! Some of them came from a tree in our town in the 70's, dad was given the tree if he'd move it once it was on the ground, so he found a guy with a small sawmill and a trailer, and he made around a hundred blanks back then. Some of them were made into custom rifles that are absolutely stunning! They rival the best wood I've ever seen anywhere at any price.
Dad sent them to the same shop (Beeson's) in Spokane who turned them into the shape you see in the photo. I still have one plank that is suitable for sawing up into four individual blanks.

Yes, the photos are about all I can get out of a borrowed camera, yet the camera's owner gets beautiful pics--its obviously operator error.
I think we have one stock for a Win M70, but it is fairly plain wood, not the most gorgeous. The rest are for Mausers.

As you can see, one is blonde, one has a thumbhole, one is for benchrest only, some have contrasting forend tips--there are no two alike. Two are laminated, not solid walnut, but even they are beautiful.

I have never had any experience with Gun Broker, but then I resisted ebay for a long time too, and now I am devoted to it--I am teachable, just slow.

I am encouraged to hear that there is some interest out there, but it is clear that fewer people are wanting to go for a rifle with custom wood--too expensive.

I offered them once on Craigs list for $1100 if someone would take them all. it seemed like a real deal for the right guy but I had no takers. One guy says he'd go $250 for all of em, I declined. It costs more than $100 each to just turn em from a raw blank.

I may have to get going online with Gun Broker --is there a consensus which is the better outfit to deal with? (I think there are three main sites for selling guns and related stuff).

 

[paintballdude902]

if you have any damaged ones id be interested. been looking for something cheap to practice checkering and inletting on