I have am having a new gun constructed. It will be with the small GMA Mauser action in 257 Roberts and with a "real" piece of "French Walnut".

I am thinking of having this rifle made with an English style of stock but without the fore-end tip or checkpiece. Obviously, the fore-end could be added later if I so elected, but my question is, would it be too radical not to have the checkpiece. Although, I don't plan on selling the gun, one never knows down the road and would the lack of a checkpiece cause a substantial reduction in value, particularly when I having this rifle made by a well known and respected gunman?

One of the reasons that I would like to omit the checkpiece is that I plan on hunting with this rifle and frankly, I find that the checkpieces get in the way--they tend to rub on my knife handle and over a period of time develop rough edges.

Any insights or comments would be greatly appreciated.

quote:

One of the reasons that I would like to omit the checkpiece is that I plan on hunting with this rifle and frankly, I find that the checkpieces get in the way--they tend to rub on my knife handle and over a period of time develop rough edges.

That's as good a reason as any to omit one. I have several rifles, scoped even, that I built on stocks without cheekpieces. That's the primary reason I build rather than buy, so I can have it my way.

The way I hold/shoulder a rifle puts my face nowhere near a cheekpiece, so for me they are useless and just get in the way. None of my rifles have them and I think it makes for a more balanced looking rifle/stock...just my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by Schrodinger's Cat:
Although, I don't plan on selling the gun, one never knows down the road and would the lack of a checkpiece cause a substantial reduction in value, particularly when I having this rifle made by a well known and respected gunman?

Any insights or comments would be greatly appreciated.

One of the good reasons to build or have a custom rifle built is so that you can have it made to your tastes and needs. A bad reason to build a custom gun is for financial reasons, they usually don't retain value like you would want them too in most cases.
I think you should build your rifle the way you want it (though preferably within the realms of taste) regardless of it's monetary value. If you really don't like cheekpeices don't put one on, you can still make an excellent tastefull rifle without one.
I personally prefer a cheekpeice as long as it's a cheekpeice and not a facepeice. I'd rather change knifes or knife location than worry about it rubbing on my rifle, but that's me. Build your rifle the way you want...............DJ

I dont realy care for, or need a cheek piece either.
You can make a small pankake one that barely sticks up just for detail with shadowline cut with a vaneer, just for looks and detail.

Schrodinger's Cat (I really need to know where that name came from ) Okay I just did a google search and found it. Glad you lived through it.

Cheepieces are basically decoration. The comb needs to fit your face where you want it.

BTW, did your buy your "real" piece of French walnut in France or from someone that assured you it was from France? Just curious about your distinction. I am curious about a lot of stuff today.

I like em... your call
jeffe

If you look at a lot of the original Jeffery small bore rifles and even some Westley Richards and Rigby rifle, they were absent. I personally like them, but the English left them off of a lot of the rifles.

The M-70 featherweight don't have one.....and IMO they're a gorgeous rifle. I own two of them and don't have a complaint with them at all..
That said when I build a rifle it has a shadowline cheekpiece as I prefer the looks over the ones without.

It boils down to this.....it's your money.....build it your way and ta heck with the other guy thinks.

I've actually gone so far as to carve a stock with them and rasp them off later--I simply don't see the point. They fit me no better, get in the way when slung, and are a PITA to sand out. Unless I'm really missing something, I think that they are 90% decoration. Decoration is fine if there are no negatives to it (forend tip, fancy checkering, higher grade wood) but to decorate with something you really don't like "just cause" doesn't make sense. Maybe I just havn't shouldered a stock with cheekpiece that fit me perfectly....