Are there any stock making companies still in business, like Bishop, Reinhart Fajen, or whatever?????? I don't want any of the black stuff!!!!!!! I want good ole Walnut or Hardwood.......Any help????? Thanks

Fred Wenig is the former Fajen's shop supe who took over the company after Midway let it go to the dogs. He is on the web and still does great work. Other than a few of the members of the ACGG that do this sort of stuff, I could/would not recommend anyone else

Boyd's has drop-in fit mauser stocks. But remember, one size fits all means it doesn't fit any exactly.

Are you looking for a semi-finished stock or a "drop-in"? What rifle, standard or custom barrel? Are you wanting to use plain wood or something a little fancier. Maybe too many questions; however it may help guide you in the right direction quicker. As an example I have an old Bishop stock for a 1917 Enfield plain walnut that has been inletted I will sell and likely someone may have what you are looking for.

I have got a couple from Great American stock company - 95% inletted. One is a Mauser 98 Oberndorf design & the other is a 1903 Mannlicher Schoenauer carbine - both in English walnut. The wood cost me US$150 to 250 each. You can get nice grade stocks for around $350 to $500.

I have also bought 2 inletted stocks from Fred Wenig in the past as well as Richards.
I got the Mauser stock finished by a gunsmith for my Simson 9.3X62 and the Mannlicher I did myself. I have posted pictures at various stages of both rifles.

Please be careful with GASC as there are some horror stories on the web. I have had no problems though.

Good luck

Richards Microfit Gunstocks, Inc.
http://rifle-stocks.com/

I have also used Richards Microfit as they were the only ones that had a wood stock for a Sako AIII. It was supposed to be 96% inletted, but it required a little more work than that. I would much rather remove a little more wood for a nice fit instead of having large gaps around the action.

The stock turned out very nice and I would not hesitate to buy from them again.

I have also bought 2 stocks from Great American Gunstock Co. http://www.gunstocks.com/

Both were semi-inlet for 1903 Springfields. Fancy English Walnut, with ebony tips and ebony butt caps, and an good recoil pad installed.

Took about 2 days to fully inlet them but I have no problem with the quality or price (~$350)

Barstooler

I've put wood from Richards on two of my rifles. The first was a grey/grey/rose laminate that I put on a stainless .375 RUM. It turned out OK, with no problems.

The second was a AA Fancy, feather crotch Claro walnut that I ordered for my blued .300 Wby Vanguard. After a 4 or 5 month wait, and finally getting a live person on the other end of the phone, I received a piece of wood that didn't look at all like their advertised pictures of that grade of wood, and it had been fitted with a recoil pad and a shorter length of pull, which I had not ordered.

More phone calls and and a month later I finally got the stock that I wanted, and (I think) it turned out beautiful.

This mirrors my one time experience. I won't be ordering from them again.

I would stay away from Great American Gunstock Co. The cutomer service is horrible, called to order tollk my info and billed my card. 8 weeks later stock showed up. I tried to contact them several times, calls and email unanswered. Inletting was very rough. I would not use them again.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter S.:
I would stay away from Great American Gunstock Co. The cutomer service is horrible, called to order tollk my info and billed my card. 8 weeks later stock showed up. I tried to contact them several times, calls and email unanswered. Inletting was very rough. I would not use them again.

Funny how experiences/opinions vary. I've been pretty much happy with GAG stocks over the years. The 2 or 3 I got from Richards were just OK. The worst of the bunch came from Boyds.

Here's my experience:

Boyds - Bought for a Howa 1500, fit well except needed lots of material removed towards the front of the barrel channel to relieve pressure and float. Eventually pillar and epoxy bedded it.

Accurate Innovations - got a deal at Midway, actually put the Howa in it. Took some modifications around the bolt relief - required grinding in to the aluminum bedding block to fit. Overall, nice stock. Folks like the looks.

Great American Gunstock - Got some fire damaged stocks to practice on. Still have one of them. Again, just practice.

Richards Microfit - Inletting really good; outside finish rough, but not as rough as GAG. Finishing a Remington 700 now. Significantly reworked stock - thinning front alot.

I might use the Biesen's for the next stock I do - they turn their patterns for you, looks like they do a good job. Also want to do a stock from scratch. I need to make a true scalled down youth stock for my daugther, so probably will do that one from scratch.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter S.:
I would stay away from Great American Gunstock Co. The cutomer service is horrible, called to order tollk my info and billed my card. 8 weeks later stock showed up. I tried to contact them several times, calls and email unanswered. Inletting was very rough. I would not use them again.

Their web site shows that they had a major fire in 2008 and it took them about a year to relocate and get back in business.

I bought both my stocks before the fire, and great customer service and fast delivery.

I would assume that they are back up to speed and would use them again.

Barstooler

I purchased 3 or 4 stocks from GAG. I always thought customer service was decent. Friendly on the phone. I called about a specific stock, the guy went and got it, told me about it. All in all, I think they were good to deal with. lightning fast shipping too.

The downside of GAG is they are rough on the outside and the inletting is rough on the inside. Takes a little more work but they seem to turn out good. All of the stocks that I have gotten have been seconds or lower grade, so I don't know if the premium stocks are better inletted and finished better on the outside.

I know a gunsmith that orders 90% stocks from Sho-me-gunstocks. They are usually better (not as rough) than the GAG stocks but they don't have a website so you just call and tell them what you want and they send you a stock. I like to look at pictures of what I'm buying. However, I have found nothing wrong with any of the sho-me stocks.