Raising a stock comb--how?

[Don Gwinn]

I just received my new 1896 Mauser (sporterized) today, and I love her. Only problem is, I suspect that when I shoot her I'm going to find that the stock is a bit too long and the comb too short (it looks like the scope is mounted too high, but the bolt handle just barely clears it now*)

The length is easy--there's over an inch of recoil pad I can remove if necessary. The height has me wondering. Ideally, I'd like to be able to take the scope off and use the iron sights (and well) at a later date if I want. Would something like the "Garand sniper cheek pad" Sarco offers work, or is that too soft to be consistent?

If I need to do something more permanent, what do you suggest? I've seen this done with leather stacked, glued, shaped, sanded and polished, and that would look pretty good on this rifle. I've done a little leather work before, but am I overlooking an easier way?

(*Actually, it doesn't quite clear it--it brushes the "bell" at the rear of the scope if you bring it up and back with some gusto. I'll probably replace the scope with one without the "belled" back lens.)

 

[Art Eatman]

Yeah, if you want to go back and forth from scope to irons, that Garand pad would work.

As for the bolt handle, it doesn't have to be brutally strong. Look at the flat handle on a Mannlicher, for instance. IOW, just grind off some metal and then polish it out and cold-blue it. Today's cold blues come in different shades, so you could probably get a fairly close match for color.

Art