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... .

 

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”

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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