Stock for M-48
I know you wanted synthetic but IMHO, the nicest looking stocks for the M-48 are the Boyd's laminated stocks. The 2 standard colors are brownish ("Nutmeg") or grayish ("Pepper"), or you can have a whole rainbow of custom colors at added cost.
BTW, it would seem like a futile attempt to try surgery on a K-98 stock--The M-48 action is just 1/4 inch shorter I believe, and cutting that little out of the K-98 stock and pieceing it back together, and having it (a) functionally strong and (b) not looking like Frankenstein's monster, would be a bit of a challenge.
When I made a pseudo-scout out of an M-48 I used a Boyd's stock. Bought an unfinished (meaning not varnished--all the inletting, etc, is complete!) stock, dremelled out space and glass-bedded it, sanded it (this is the most tedious part of any woodworking project, believe me!) and gave it abt. 7 coats of cheap hardware-store satin spar varnish. It looks better than I have any right to expect. Shoots pretty good, too.
You can get the varnish, sandpaper, etc, from Boyd's, but your local hardware store has much the same for cheaper. IIRC, I used Brownell's Acragel for the glass-bedding. Would do so again.
The whole thing wasn't hard, or mentally taxing, it just took keeping at it. And Following Directions, re the glass-bedding. You can only do so much each day, then the varnish or the glass material has to have time to set. The process took me about 2 weeks, at an hour or so each day.
The Boyd's salespeople were VERY helpful and patient while I was trying to get exactly the right stock--I imagine they go through this a lot. Anyhow, if I can do it anybody can. And I would do it again.
Boyd's will send you their catalogue for the asking, and their website is nice too. Website:
www.boydsgunstocks.com Snail mail: Boyd's Gunstock Industries, inc. 25376 403rd Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301. Phone: 605-996-5011. Fax: 605-996-9878.
I wish you well on yr project!
