How much $$ for custom stock?

06 January 2016, 04:05

How much money does it cost to have a custom wooden stock put on a rifle? I have been looking for a replacement walnut stock for my Sako Greywolf in 300 WM. It's a nice rifle but not particularly valuable or unique. I can't find a replacement drop in walnut stock and wondered how much it would cost to get one made. I was also thinking of a lighter rifle. I found walnut stock blanks from $300 to $800 on up. How much would the labor be? Nothing too fancy. Just good wood and a nice finish. Thanks, Paul

06 January 2016, 04:13

vicvanb

Sorta like asking: "How much does a car cost?"

It all depends on a big bunch of things not the least of which is who does the work.

06 January 2016, 04:57

bwanamrm

Probably $3,500 on the low end and up from there depending on who is doing the work. A good place to look and inquire would be the American Custom Gunmakers Guild website.

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06 January 2016, 05:05

PKW

Ok then. Way out of my price range. Thanks. Paul

06 January 2016, 05:06

Biebs

$4,000-$4,500 for an custom from one of the top guys.

06 January 2016, 05:28

cal pappas

Get a quote from Holland and Holland. Then, all else will seem cheap.
Cal

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06 January 2016, 05:36

boliep

You would save a ton of money and probably be better off buying a quality aftermarket stock such as McMillan, Manners, Brown, etc. Not Precision and Bell & Carlson stuff though.

06 January 2016, 05:53

montea6b

If you are not looking for top shelf and are on a budget you should consider DIY. You ought to be able to find a respectable blank for less than the $300-800 you mentioned, send it to a duplicator, then do the finish work yourself. It all depends on your ability...

06 January 2016, 06:18

dpcd

Boyds, $125. drop in. more for figured walnut. Not really custom, but not $3k either.
UP in AK, get laminated; same price.

06 January 2016, 08:28

Idaho Sharpshooter

or, you could find a good local guy and have it done on a pantagraphed stock from a good supplier like Walnut Grove Gunstocks, member here. www.walnutgrovegunstocks.com. He has wood from very plain straight grained walnut to the last two blanks I paid a thousand dollars apiece for (pantagraphed). Nice thing, he has all of his inventory shown on his website. Gives you an exact idea of how many yankee dollars for the blank you want.

I would suggest the checkering is the most expensive part.

06 January 2016, 16:25

jeffeosso

it takes AT LEAST 40 hours to make a stock, an entire week of effort, but spread over a couple weeks for drying and "stop, i am frustrated" -with shaping, inletting, finishing, checkering, pad, cap, cross bolts, bedding, etc etc etc --

to pay a guy for a week, you have to at least pay him the average income, not just for his time, his efforts, his tools, and his knowledge, but to keep him engaged enough to do this the next time.

median income is 49,500 or so, or about $25 an hour ... 40 hours@25 is $1,000, plus wood...

this should be your MINIMUM expected rate for a bespoke stock - anything less, well, its not sustainable ...

and like mechanics and architects, the better they are, the more they cost...

06 January 2016, 17:40

Brice

The preceding posts are informative, but here is my experience, having done a few myself.
-Wood blank, nothing fancy. $200
-Duplicate (pantograph) 150
-Final shaping and bedding by
self. Will likely entail
buying some rasps, scrapers,
chisels, etc. 0 to $200
-Finishing by self (paper, oil) 50
-Checkering by a pro, simple
point pattern $200-500

So, in the ballpark of $800. Plus furniture (pad, grip cap, studs,etc.) You might add a good book on the subject. Unless you are a total klutz with no patience whatever, you will have a very nice result, cuatom oil finish and all. The biggest potential failure lies in the design, so invest time in selecting a pattern.

You'll need a bench and vise, a little space to work. Good light. Maybe an Optivisor. There are several smiths and stockmakers here who no doubt will provide good advice as you go along.

I have most of the tools, which I will not use in the future. Will sell cheap. Or loan.

You can then say, with downcast eyes and a modest expression, "Yeah, thanks. I did it myself."

06 January 2016, 17:42

PKW

Thanks for the many replies. I will check out walnut grove. I don't want a synthetic or laminated stock ( the gun has a laminated stock). I think a drop in would suit me fine. So will try Boyd's. I don't doubt it would take a week or more to make a stock. I am intrigued by the notion of DIY. So may investigate that if I can't find a drop in that suits. By the way what does "pantograph" mean? Thanks. Paul

06 January 2016, 17:51

PKW

Thanks, Brice. I may go that route. I have enough space and light if I rearrange a few things in my shop. I have time and patience to tackle this but no prior experience in stock making. What is pantograph or duplicate? I like the form of the stock on the rifle ( laminated wood ). Can I use this as duplicate ? Thanks Paul

06 January 2016, 17:56

PKW

Brice thanks also for offer to sell loan tools. What tools do you have? Pls send pm as I was unable to figure out how to do that. Thanks paul

06 January 2016, 18:01

JonP

I had a drilling restocked in Germany for $1600 and in Austria for $1400. Both times I provided the blank.

06 January 2016, 18:01

LJS

I have a local smith who does very nice stock work. I believe he charges $1400 plus the cost of the blank. I have been pleased with his work.

06 January 2016, 18:59

craigster

quote:
Originally posted by PKW:
What is pantograph or duplicate? I like the form of the stock on the rifle ( laminated wood ). Can I use this as duplicate?

http://www.gunstockduplicating.com/duplication.html

06 January 2016, 19:48

ramrod340

quote:
I like the form of the stock on the rifle ( laminated wood ). Can I use this as duplicate ? Thanks Paul

Yep your old stock can be used as a pattern. I do it all the time.

I'm ready to start mine back up but am several months behind.

I have some good wood (nothing real fancy) and can use your old stock. I'm just a couple months behind.

06 January 2016, 23:01

Idaho Sharpshooter

Man, all these big numbers.

I am very glad I live in Idaho. You guys saw my Elmer Keith Sharps. I bought the blank, had it pantagraphed, then sent it to an elderly semi-retired stocker I know. He's 82, and just does a little work for old friends.

He charged me a total, plus return shipping of $756 to fit, finish, and checker that stock. He had it for six weeks, but that was the 18-20 coats of handrubbed oil.

06 January 2016, 23:12

LJS

Check on Gun Broker for Sako stocks. There are often nice Sako takeoffs available for a reasonable amount. It would certainly be a less expensive option than re-stocking.

08 January 2016, 01:34

PKW

Thanks guys for all the help. I checked Boyd's, walnut grove, and gunbroker (and Brownells) for a drop in without success. I am intrigued by possibly making my own. I think I will get a book or two on stock making and read up before deciding. Thanks again. Paul

10 January 2016, 22:57

PKW

Well I ordered a stock blank select grade English walnut from old tree out of Utah $300 and a book on stock making from Amazon. Let you know how it goes Paul

10 January 2016, 23:50

ramrod340

quote:
Well I ordered a stock blank select grade English walnut from old tree out of Utah $300 and a book on stock making from Amazon. Let you know how it goes Paul

If you are shaping your first from a blank I wish you luck.

If it were me I'd get someone to copy my old one. Fit and finish is enough to work about the first time.

11 January 2016, 00:08

dave wesbrook

You need to find a copy of Alvin Linden's "Stocking a Rifle". Good luck on finding a copy for under $200. Maybe someone here could loan you one.

11 January 2016, 00:44

LRx

quote:
Originally posted by dave wesbrook:
You need to find a copy of Alvin Linden's "Stocking a Rifle". Good luck on finding a copy for under $200. Maybe someone here could loan you one.

Or pick up a copy of "Professional Stockmaking" by Dave Westbrook. Cheaper AND readily available!

11 January 2016, 00:55

Fal Grunt

quote:
Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
then sent it to an elderly semi-retired stocker I know.

Thats I think why they call it semi-retired....

if he had to do it for a living he wouldn't be charging $756.

Last stock I had fit to a 98 Mauser was $3800. I wouldn't (and couldn't) do it for that price. Oh, that didn't include the blank. Customer was tickled pink.

Nathaniel Myers
Myers Arms LLC
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I buy Mauser actions, parts, micrometers, tools, calipers, etc. Specifically looking for pre-WWII Mauser tools.

11 January 2016, 05:26

Uncle Grinch

Go over to the forum on mausercentral.com and PM inthe10ring (Dave). He makes most any stock and has nice wood.

11 January 2016, 06:21

cooksey

I just bought a stock from Dave, beautiful wood and a nice guy to deal with. Sent him my old stock to copy the receiver. I'll finish it myself. Bill

11 January 2016, 08:07

montea6b

quote:
Originally posted by LRx:
quote:
Originally posted by dave wesbrook:
You need to find a copy of Alvin Linden's "Stocking a Rifle". Good luck on finding a copy for under $200. Maybe someone here could loan you one.

Or pick up a copy of "Professional Stockmaking" by Dave Westbrook. Cheaper AND readily available!

Dave was probably hoping you'd say that!

11 January 2016, 09:26

dave wesbrook

Montea6b,

If the poster bought a stockmaking book on AMAZON it probable was "my" book.
Since he said that he wanted to stock his rifle from the blank I suggested Linden's book mainly for Linden's methods of inletting and rough shaping the blank. Many stocks have been made using Linden's book.
I don't have a copy, but I would urge some AR member to loan him theirs and give him a fighting chance to get his stock built.

Yes, I saw the smiley face...
Dave

11 January 2016, 18:18

Brice

Gotta love AR. Turns out montea6b lives just a few miles from me. He visited, borrowed my copy of Mr. Wesbrook's fine book, and we had a lovely chat.

11 January 2016, 23:39

lindy2

I have not seen the book "Stocking a Rifle" but I do have the book "Stockmaking" by Alvin Linden. Probably the same thing reprinted. Pretty good book, but the patterns that came with it are a bit old school.

If your going to make one for the first time from a blank you might also benefit from ordering one of Jerry Fischer's(sp) patterns. I don't think he offers them for Sako, but you could alter the pattern a bit from either the model 70 or the 98 mauser patterns that he offers.

And if you have a good friend who lives close by that is pretty good with a milling machine you might solicit a bit of help there as well.

Also, if you do a search here, and if it is still here, you might find a thread started by Mr. Les Brooks where he posted his stock project that he made with mostly hand tools.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...711078031#4711078031

12 January 2016, 20:51

PKW

quote:
Originally posted by dave wesbrook:
Montea6b,

If the poster bought a stockmaking book on AMAZON it probable was "my" book.
Since he said that he wanted to stock his rifle from the blank I suggested Linden's book mainly for Linden's methods of inletting and rough shaping the blank.

Turns out this is the book I ordered. I'll look at and decide if its something I want to tackle. If not maybe send the blank out. Thanks Paul.

Yes, I saw the smiley face...
Dave

17 January 2016, 18:15

LesBrooks

I have read most of the posts on making a stock. Lindy2 posted the link to my project which I made about 5 yrs ago. If you read the complete article and save it to your PC it may help you if you want to make a stock from a blank. Dave has a good book also and if you read a lot before starting this project you should be able to make a stock. I am back under the Oak Tree where my stock started out.
Les Brooks, retired gunsmith

17 January 2016, 19:44

sicero

You might give some thought to buying a semi inlett from Richards Microfit.

I have done a few of them.
The inletting is not going to be good.
The outside of the stock may or may not
be what you expect but for $150 you can get experience you will get no place else.

You will not learn much by having someone else do it for you. Kenny

I am not so sure I would loan my Linden Book
to my best friend.

20 January 2016, 17:43

sicero

Sorry I missed where you have bought a blank.

Send the blank along with your old stock to copy the inletting to Ramrod. You can thank me later.

Kenny

20 January 2016, 20:43

larrys

Remember, there are two things that Chic Worthing told me over and over when I made my first from a blank.
1) If you don't have the patience for it, don't do it. Repeat.

2) It is DAMN hard to put wood back. See rule 1.

He was a great help. My first one looks admittedly like crap, but my daughter loves it. After that, they get better.

21 January 2016, 00:35

igorrock

PKW, I'm quite sure that some another wooden stock from other model of SAKO 85 -serie will fit to yours rifle. So make a call to local dealer and ask.

22 January 2016, 04:47

montea6b

quote:
Originally posted by Brice:
Gotta love AR. Turns out montea6b lives just a few miles from me. He visited, borrowed my copy of Mr. Wesbrook's fine book, and we had a lovely chat.

I just now saw this... Great meeting you Brice, thanks for your hospitality!

And Mr. Wesbrook, excellent book!