Looking for unfinished rifle stocks.. Can someone help please?

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TMiller556

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I'm 16 years old and I'm from NYC. I've had an interest in firearms since I was 15 and I've been looking for something related to guns that I can do as a hobby that is legal in NYC. Someone recommended stock refinishing, which I would love to get into, but the problem is that I cannot find somewhere to purchase unfinished rifle stocks. I have seen sites that have had unfinished foreends and buttstocks, but I was looking for a whole stock such as a Mauser stock. Does anyone know where I can buy any? I would really appreciate it if anyone can help me. Thanks in advance.
 
Boyd's sells their stocks unfinished, but really, I'd recommend you take a swing at buying an older rifle and refinish the stock on it. To me, there's a tremendous amount of pride in taking something pretty much worn out and making it look better.
 
Check your yellow pages for gun shops or gunsmiths in your area.

Somebody has a pile of old take-off stocks in the junque they would be happy to give you if you show enough interest, and whine loud enough.

A lot of those old guys appear gruff and uncaring.
But show one a 15 year kid with an interest in old guns and stock refinishing, (and not video game guns & killing)?

They are all softies & old grandfathers at heart I betcha.

rc
 
Hoth206 said:
Boyd's sells their stocks unfinished, but really, I'd recommend you take a swing at buying an older rifle and refinish the stock on it. To me, there's a tremendous amount of pride in taking something pretty much worn out and making it look better.
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I'm 16.. so unfortunately I'm not able to get a rifle. I would love to though.
 
rcmodel said:
Check your yellow pages for gun shops or gunsmiths in your area.

Somebody has a pile of old take-off stocks in the junque they would be happy to give you if you show enough interest, and whine loud enough.

A lot of those old guys appear gruff and uncaring.
But show one a 15 year kid with an interest in old guns and stock refinishing, (and not video game guns & killing)?

They are all softies & old grandfathers at heart I betcha.

rc
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Thanks, I'll try, but there aren't that many ranges or shops that I know of in my area. The range that I go to is pretty far from me and the other ranges/shops are far from me too. By the way, I just went on Boyd's gun stocks and I see that they sell unfinished stocks, but I figured that they would be used, but they aren't. Not only did I want to refinish the stocks but I wanted to sand out the scratches, dents, etc. Are there any sites where I can get used unfinished stocks?
 
Used and unfinished will not go in the same sentence there. You could probably try searching for used stocks but you will probably come up nil there as well. New unfinished stocks would be your best bet.

RC made about the only other option that you would have. Us old farts do tend to get a little softhearted when we see younguns actually showing interest in anything that doesn't involve a keyboard or hand controller.
 
Check with these guys: http://www.rifle-stocks.com/bargain_list.htm

You could probably get a non-firing or de-milled "parade" rifle action and practice fitting and finishing a stock to that action. If the one you get is a common action like a 1903 or a Model 1917, you will be able to fit a fully functional action when you are old enough.

If you like the work, you can make a decent part time income refinishing rifle stocks. There is as much art as science to the business. It borrows some techniques from musical instrument finishes and mixed hardwood dying, etc.
 
BrocLuno said:
Check with these guys: http://www.rifle-stocks.com/bargain_list.htm

You could probably get a non-firing or de-milled "parade" rifle action and practice fitting and finishing a stock to that action. If the one you get is a common action like a 1903 or a Model 1917, you will be able to fit a fully functional action when you are old enough.

If you like the work, you can make a decent part time income refinishing rifle stocks. There is as much art as science to the business. It borrows some techniques from musical instrument finishes and mixed hardwood dying, etc.
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Thanks I'll look into it
 
There are always tons of old, misfit stocks selling on eBay. That's the first place I would look. I don't know if a stock listing would survive on Craigslist for long, even though it technically isn't a gun. You might try asking on the "items wanted" section, although I don't know if NYC is the best place to do that....might want to get your parents involved in any CL transactions so you don't get yourself murdered or abducted.

Around here (rural KY) there are occasionally old geezers selling mystery gun stocks at the flea markets.

As a semi-firearms related suggestion: have you thought about assembling a knife from a kit? If you buy a wood-handled kit you would learn some of the same skills needed to refinish wood gunstocks.
 
Elkins45 said:
There are always tons of old, misfit stocks selling on eBay. That's the first place I would look. I don't know if a stock listing would survive on Craigslist for long, even though it technically isn't a gun. You might try asking on the "items wanted" section, although I don't know if NYC is the best place to do that....might want to get your parents involved in any CL transactions so you don't get yourself murdered or abducted.

Around here (rural KY) there are occasionally old geezers selling mystery gun stocks at the flea markets.

As a semi-firearms related suggestion: have you thought about assembling a knife from a kit? If you buy a wood-handled kit you would learn some of the same skills needed to refinish wood gunstocks.
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I just looked on ebay and saw some unfinished stocks but i was only able to bid on them and they were already expensive. And no I haven't, it sounds interesting though I'll check it out. Also, can't I just buy a used finished stock and take the finish off of it? Then sand and refinish it? Would that be cheaper than just buying an unfinished stock and refinishing it?
 
Also, can't I just buy a used finished stock and take the finish off of it?
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Yes.
I thought that was what we were talking about.

Stripping the old finish, getting the oil out of the old wood, steaming out dents, sanding, staining, and finishing are all things you need to know how to do if you plan to offer a stock refinishing service.

Here is some more info:
http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/jim-carmichel/2007/09/refinish-your-rifles-stock

http://riflestocks.tripod.com/refinish.html

PS: That Garand stock would be perfect practice, if it doesn't go to $100 bucks at the last minute.
If you do a good job you can probably sell it for more and buy the next one.

rc
 
If you are going to any repair work for others, you also need to know how to fit a proper repair piece and grain match, etc. All good skills to have later in life :)
 
There is also the matter of having an FFL in order to do gun repairs for others.

If they walk the stock in minus the barrel & action, fine.

But if you have to take the gun apart and put it back together and charge for it, you have become a "gunsmith" in the ATF's view, and need a FFL.

rc
 
i would love to learn how to fit the action but it seems pretty hard to find a demilled action for a certain stock. Where is the best place to find demilled actions?
 
tmiller i'll donate a czech vz-24 stock if your interested. its in decent condition but needs the oil removed, dings fixed & refinished.
 
Also, can't I just buy a used finished stock and take the finish off of it?
Click to expand...

That's what I presumed you meant in the first place. Most gunstock work involves stripping the old existing finish off the stock and refinishing it.
 
Elkins45 said:
That's what I presumed you meant in the first place. Most gunstock work involves stripping the old existing finish off the stock and refinishing it.
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i was using the wrong terms, at first what i meant was buying an unfinished rifle stock and finishing it (that wouldnt be that much fun) but then i realized it would make way more sense to refinish a rifle. i'm going to start reading up on the topic more. I would love to post some before and after pics after I'm done and receive some constructive criticism
 
Wow you were right, I called up a shop by me in Long Island and they offered to give me some stocks they don't need. Thank you
 
I suspected as much.

Be sure and pick their brains about stock work while you are thanking them profusely!!

rc
 
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