Moved from gunsmithing forum:

Last year I picked up a M54 30-06 for a couple hundred bucks..It has since sat in my dads safe, I would like to use it next year for deer..The stock is a little beat up, has a few minor cracks and some "black" spots on one side (possibly water damage?)Anyway, I would like to get a new stock for it, I found a site (Walnut Grove Gun Stocks), that has semi inletted stocks from $225-600.What would I be looking at price range to have a quality job in finishing it? I realize that this can vary from person to person. I have seen some of the work that members do and am envious.

I have been going back and forth on converting it for a scope or keep it as is, and I chose to keep it as is so I would also be looking for an original sight..Any help/input is appreciated! (Wasn't sure to put this here or in the custom guns section, I can move if necessary)

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What would I be looking at price range to have a quality job in finishing it

Guess is $650 and up.

Thanks, I want to put some pictures up in the next few days and get some more feedback, to possibly see if re finishing it would be an option? Depending on severity of cracks, of course.

I had a thumbhole, semi-inletted stock completely and beautifully finished by an AR member.....for 300.

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AR member.....for 300.

With Checkering??

Post a pic of the stock. You might be surprised how well an 85 year old stock can be made to look nice again. The 54 factory stocks are just right IMO, both the early slim schnabeled ones and the late NRA-style ones.

As for sights, I would invest in a Lyman or Redfield receiver sight and use it that way. Field grade sights (Lyman 57 for example) can be had quite reasonably and work just fine. A Lyman 48 is the Cadillac of such sights but not necessary for function in the deer woods.

I've owned a few 54's over the years, and in fact a .30-30 54 was my primary deer rifle this year. I treasure them for their balance and "carry-ability" (as well as accuracy), and maintain them as such by not having scopes clamped to them. (And also maintain originality by not having to drill extra holes or re-shape bolt handles.)

I'd have a hard time doing anything to that stock other than cleaning it up a little. The crack beside the rear sight is a small drop of thin super glue (with the metal out of the wood) away from being invisible. That dark spot would likely go away with a little scraping and put a little tru-oil on it.

You have a very un-messed with model 54. They're getting hard to find.

bryndon

Yep. Were it mine I would leave it alone.

If it were mine. I'm clean it up. Probably clean the checkering then leave it alone.

I too am in love with my 1929 M54.. I almost feel the M70 was a step backwards in some way's..
I'm having difficulty locating a taller front sight for mine.. I found a temporary front on ebay, but the original early blade fronts are scarcer than hens teeth.. If anybody's got one I'm your man.

Nice pooch!

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Originally posted by MopaneMike:
I too am in love with my 1929 M54.. I almost feel the M70 was a step backwards in some way's..
I'm having difficulty locating a taller front sight for mine.. I found a temporary front on ebay, but the original early blade fronts are scarcer than hens teeth.. If anybody's got one I'm your man.

Me too. I figure the M70's bottom metal is its biggest advantage over a 54, plus I kinda favor the two-stage trigger pull (something I have long since been totally used to in a rifle).

Put a semi finished 54 in classifieds???

I suspect the dark spots can be sweated out with damp towel and hot iron along with all dents and scratches, clean the inletting and give it a paint coat of glass. splints and cracks can be repaired to not show 99% of the time, even if pieces of wood are missing, they can be filled and with the proper use of a marking pencil made to look like grain...In other words restore the stock..I do that for around $150 to $250 depending on the work required, and suspect others charge about the same. Old completely restored guns done right don't give up much in value and in many cases add greatly to the value..Add a good rust blue to the above and your 54 will increase in value 4 or 5 times its present worth. In some cases this isn't the case as some firearms should not be restored as it would ruin the value, the trick is to know which ones work and which ones should be done...Too often I see folks putting all old rifle in one category, and that's a lack of knowledge, Doug Turnbull is a fine example of increasing the value of older rifles.

Have uploaded some more pics that are a bit better (I hope).Thanks for all the replies, I enjoyed reading them. Sounds like I will just leave it as is, clean it up and go see how it shoots!

http://s1078.photobucket.com/u...brary/?sort=3&page=1

Anyone know where i could find the "original" "peep" sight, and which is the correct model? I have read that the Lyman 48W and the 48WJS were original, but have not found the difference..

Try e-bay. They have a couple listed.