I am currently having some work done to an '09 Argie intended to become a 9.3x64, full-wood Mannlicher style.

I am trying to avoid dropping 10k on this project but also don't want to end up with one of the three ugly sisters !
This will be a working/hunting rifle.

Currently I am hunting down semi-finished rifle stocks to suit.

Can anyone provide feedback on;
Richards Microfit Gunstocks out of Sun Valley C.A.

Thank-you in advance,

Paul.

I have used Richard's for 3 rifles. The biggest problem I had was the time it took to get the stock. I had no problem with their inletting, since it's supposed to be semi-inletted. I don't know how fancy you want the wood, but I think you can probably get what you want from them......Tom

Thank-you Tom, it's reassuring to get positive feedback.

Waiting time listed on the web site says up to 13 weeks for "special" delivery items, which mine would be.

Are you saying your wait breeched this statement.

I'm certainly in no rush but dont want to get stuck waiting for a couple of years for what should be an easily produced item.

Can I ask you more about the specific details of the stocks you were provided with.

Was the quality of the timber as you expected/ordered ?

Thank-you again,

Paul.

The semi-inlet that I bought from them was basically unusable. They returned it with no fuss but that may be cost prohibitive from Oz. I learned the hard way that there are very few bargains in the stock world.

If you're going to devote hours of inletting, shaping, and finishing to this project, I would highly recommend buying a blank that you can evaluate yourself and having it turned by a pro.

Paul, l will agree with this last post. Most of the stockmakers and wood purveyers have patterns available to satisfy you needs. Their websites will show a lot of different blanks. I think if you contact any one of them they will be able to help with a pattern.

The 2 that I had were virtually unusable. I waited 9 months for them and another 6 months when I rejected them to get replacements.
The wood looked nice, just something that I would never consider again.

Wow, this thread realy proves that it pays to ask first.

Since posting this i also tried some "outside" searching and got pretty much the same results as the feedback so generously provided by you good folks here.
Seems to be quite a few "issues" regarding quality of finish as well as many stories of protracted supply.

Thank-you all for saving me from an expensive mistake.

Paul.

Check with Roger Vardy in your country.

http://rogervardystockwood.com/

i ordered from richards twice (didn't believe it the first time) first time it was an exhibition grade of american walnut - that one broke in half, then i ordered a laminated target stock - got a walnut varmint one. Just ain't gonna be no third time

quote:

Check with Roger Vardy in your country.

Thank-you Butchlambert, yes I will do so but my preference was to find a stock in the U.S as the barreled action is being worked on over there currently.

Thank-you Butchloc also, Richards have pretty much gotten the a....

Am I going down the same road with Great American Riflestocks, located in Yuba i beleive ?

Roger ships wood over quite often. He is my favorite. I think the stockmakers over here like his wood.

I have used them three times and have had good luck with them. This project was done with one of their stocks

7mm-08 Project

Thanks Brad, for your input and congrats on a great looking project.

Judging by the feedback here and elswhere you apear to be one of the lucky ones with regards to satisfaction with Richards gunstocks and I do acknowledge that with every sad tale there are also satisfied customers, it's just that the percentages seem tipped in the wrong direction.

I encourage more feedback, now pertaining to Great American Gunstock Company, Yuba City California ?
Anyone purchased anything from here, recent or otherwise ?

Thank-you in advance,

Paul.

If you look at the same 7mm thread I also have pictures of a 35 Whelen that one was from Great American. I have bought 4 stocks from Great American and had good results.

If you google either company you will find a lot of complaints about them. I may have been lucky I dont know. But I also think a lot of it has to do with expectations, I expect that I will have to do quite a bit of work and fitting. I also expect that it will not be perfect. So maybe my bar is low.

I am not sure I would use Great American again, they seem to be getting flaky and the owner seems to be getting a little grouchy. My last experience was fine but seemed like he was checking out and not really interested in doing business.

This rifle was a great american blank

Consider finding an already finished rifle with a stock and action that you like!

You have the internet with all of the auction and classified sites.

Find one you like with great wood and enough LOP for you that fits an action you like.

It will be much faster and less expensive. You will also get what you see.

So called customs don't always come out the way we want.

_99, I appreciate your sentiments which sound as though they were borne from bitter experience.

I'm already too far down the track with an action purchased, a barrel ordered and other metalworks commisioned.
I'd never thought it would be so much drama to get a simple pre-cut stock done and infact is turing out to be such a pain i may disregard my original intentions of a mannlicher style.

I've had two big bores built by Accurate Inovations, they build awesome stocks, just not in mannlicher, but this is starting to put me off and I may go back to them for another "standard" stock.

Thanks for everyones input.

you might want to check out this guy. He does semi-inletted stocks.

http://www.allindgunmaker.com/

And this guy.

http://www.biesen.com/Stock%20work_4.html

You may spend more money to get exatctly what ylu want...you're happy!

Go cheap and get crap, you''ve wasteds money and are unhappy

you'll be much better off finding a good blank and sending it to a man with a duplicator

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
you'll be much better off finding a good blank and sending it to a man with a duplicator

Best recommendation of all.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Truccolo:
I am currently having some work done to an '09 Argie intended to become a 9.3x64, full-wood Mannlicher style.

I am trying to avoid dropping 10k on this project but also don't want to end up with one of the three ugly sisters !
This will be a working/hunting rifle.

Currently I am hunting down semi-finished rifle stocks to suit.

Can anyone provide feedback on;
Richards Microfit Gunstocks out of Sun Valley C.A.

Thank-you in advance,

Paul.

I don't know about their quality as far as the wood blanks they use. But, I sent them 2 blanks (for Mauser projects)and their estimate of 4-6 weeks turned into 14 weeks and the stock was overcut at the forward edge of the ejector box cut. Pro's are price and the fit was not too bad except for the mis-cut. I have not checked the other stock for fit. My Brother had bought a stock from them to fit a Ruger M77 and it didn't have any mistakes. But, it took 3 weeks longer to get than they initially quoted.

This rifle was a great american blank


[/QUOTE] Very nice stock.

The mannlicher idea has been thrown out the door.

I've decided to go back to Accurate Innovations who stocked two big bores of mine a year or so ago and did an excellent job of it.

At least i know with A.I that their standard of workmanship is high and that they are trustworthy and legitimate in their business dealings AND they don't cost the Earth.

Thank-you to all who responded.

Paul.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
This rifle was a great american blank

Very nice stock.[/QUOTE]

These pix don't show what we would like to see up close; the wood to metal fit all around. That is the main reason I would not buy from them.

got 1 blank from richards sent it back . Was unusable. Buy a blank a get it to a guy with a good duplicator, but as it has already been said there are a lot of nice ones out there that the honeymoon is over.

I hate to admit to my stupid, stupid mistakes.

I sent one of my pieces of wood to Richards to be machined into a classic semi-shaped and semi-inletted stock. BIG MISTAKE.

They would/could do nothing about it! I'm simply out a nice chunk of wood and no one cares about it but me and my wallet.

Zeke

I seem to have inadvertantly uncovered a pit of discontent amongst those seeking the "semi-custom" stock option.

A real shame as it is obvious that there is a definite market for those that seek that "extra" above a standard factory stock and can't afford/ or don't wish to spend the full tilt on a custom from one of the better stockmakers.

I think what some misunderstand is that the sole motivation is to save money and that is wrong.
From my personal perspective guns are for use not for looks though in saying that I also fully know well the advantages of a well fitting stock.
I do not abuse my rifles but rather they are all expected to earn their keep hence my owning a masterpiece is rather moot as it will not look that way in twelve months.

As oposed to the asthetics... it is the measure of fit that I am after, hence going down the semi-inletted track.

To most custom rifle afficianadose (sp ?) my two working big bores, a .500 Ultra mag and a 458 Lott would no doubt appear rather plane and ordinary.
That's o.k by me as they both fit me like a glove and point and shoot for me without much effort, so much so that they even make me look like a good shot at times, and that's a statement.

There is an obvious market for hunters wishing to get customised dimensions and fit as oposed to asthetics, engraving etc.

Paul.

Paul,
Contact Al Lind about duplicating your wood. Something that you might look into.

quote:

Paul,
Contact Al Lind about duplicating your wood. Something that you might look into.

Thank-you for your reccomendation Butch, I have sent you a p.m.

Paul.