OK I have a 1906 Winchester 22 that was my Grandfather's then my Dad's. Toomanytools just installed a barrel liner and reblued it for me. I was just going to put it back in shooting mode and bought a set of Boyd wood for it.

Well you know Boyds the butt stock almost looks plastic and or painted. So the darn thing looks so good I'm going to cut a new Butt stock. I have several blanks laying downstairs. I can go from a basic straight grain. Or I can go fancy with some nice grain. Same labor for me either way.

What say you?

IMHO depends on the quality of the bluing job. If a deep, polished blue a fancy stock is the ticket. A pedestrian bluing job mates better with a basic straight grain stock.

The blue job isn't a WBY super gloss. It is a nice semi satin that fits the rifle and period.

Fancy might be a touch much. I'm not thinking a Exhibition grade piece. Just something with more character than a plain Jane.

I have quarter sawn and some with some character.

As examples

after all the rest of the work, why use plain? might be a dumb question for some, but understand i am a fancy walnutaholic

I think a blank with a little crotch figure sweeping up towards the heel of the stock and straight grain through the wrist would be very fitting... laid out like this stock (but not necessarily as fancy): http://www.shop.macongunstocks...hester-1895-3613.htm

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
after all the rest of the work, why use plain?

I agree.

I am with Butchloc here. Make it a show pony, not a work horse.

Nice looking wood. But I think I'll roll my own.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
Nice looking wood. But I think I'll roll my own.

Right, the intent was just to show the wood they used.

quote:

Right, the intent was just to show the wood they used.

Figured that have been the case after I posted my response. Time to dig deeper into my stash.

I would go with medium fancy, something that looks like much better than normal factory wood.

I picked up a used 1906 that had been polished and reblued to a deep shiny finish. It was restocked with beautiful figured wood and had a crescent metal butt plate added (like the 1890). I added a flip up tang sight. Not a collector but a beautiful and fun plinker.

LB, we need a photo. I have a sad 1906 as well that I have been wanting to put new wood, crescent butt and a tang sight on.

Two ways to go, a full restoration, or just replace a nice plain Jane piece of American walnut to match the forend wood..both are suitable, just go with your opine..

My problem with a full restortation on a 1906 that I did about a year or so ago for myself, was the best of dark highly grained Russian walnut,butt stock and magazine rod lengthened 2 inches, straight grip and small pancake cheek piece..added a small quarter rib on the factory barrel that extended to the rear of the action, would take Talley Rings 7/8" for a Leupold Alaskan, and a Talley peep sight that fitted in the steel grip cap or quarter rib. barrel band front sight, with a 3/32 ivory bead..HOw I loved that rifle. but sold it for $9000.00. I still have a nice 63 but going to keep this one, its just plain jane..Maybe some day I will build another for myself, who knows..

They make beautiful custom rifles and sell like hotcakes at a Morman cookout breakfast..and Ive never seen a 63 that didn't shoot pinholes..

The hard part of selling that gun is all Im left with is a picture! and got to shoot one running rockchuck in my pasture.

I agree Ray, I love the 63 that I bought from you. One of the best little 22s ever built. As to the original question; since your rebluing + barrel relining has pretty much tanked the collector value then go for the gusto of a beautiful piece. Besides, it does''nt sound like you intend to sell it anyway. There are some beautiful pieces of wood out there that would make this a classic.

If Im going to build a stock that takes me a month or more of labor, it sure as hell isn't going to be wasted on a piece of cheap wood..especially on a two piece stick of wood..

I wouldn't reline a barrel, Id rebarrel and have a smith engrave the original lettering on a new barrel, make a mark to show it as not original is a good idea.

Randy,
You got the one I said Id never sell!! I guess that's just me! I can't seem to hold on to very many guns, I tend to sell them and go with something new and interesting..dammit, its a curse.

Ray, I totally agree. If I had a nickel for everyone I sold + regretted, I'd be a rich man.

quote:

They make beautiful custom rifles and sell like hotcakes at a Morman cookout breakfast..and Ive never seen a 63 that didn't shoot pinholes..

Mormon, Ray, NOT "Morman". You've lived among them long enough to know better! And, by the way, I do love my own 63!