I had 3 weeks to think about it. My cheek was no where near the back of the cheekpiece so I removed the monte carlo. This wood cuts very nice with a block plane.

Much nicer looking. How’s the fit now?

Good job. Next time call me and I will tell you not to wait.

Much better profile. Almost straight.

Ok, make it perfectly flat and straight.

Nice work! Huge improvement.

Very nice!

this was right after the block plane so no straight edge applied yet :-)

Seems like that cheekpiece is now a bit
disproportionate in size

cheekpiece is smaller than it should be (esthetic) but it's as big as it needs to be.

I removed the roll-over wave from my Zastava but left the MC as it helps me align with the scope and I don't mind the look. I used to crawl the stock but finally learned to shoot with my head up, and the MC helps.

I don't really get the modern 'classic' comb. I guess it can get your head up for a scope if the wood is thick enough but is not so good with higher mounts.

Back in the '80s I took some pictures of a sambar-hunting guru testing a new rifle for a magazine we worked on - but noticed a problem when the photos came back. The Sako 375 magnum was one of their first with a 'classic' plastic stock (if you can forgive that oxymoron) and a biggish Weaver scope. Trouble was the scope and stock caused him not only to keep his head up but an inch-plus of the butt above his shoulder.

Had he actually fired the rifle while holding it like that, the penny may have dropped sooner.

I cut them all off, not a friend of Monte Carlos of any kind. Just me, others like them and some of them are functional...

I speed up the operation with a belt sander and finish with a file to paper..add a steel butt plate or recoil pad if you must..

I won't be finishing this till next year. I may test a finish with some black in it.

That is just water on the stock lower picture

Sambarman made an astute observation. The monte carlo configuration may be the logical choice for some shooters

We Homo Saps are pretty adaptable, but just maybe cutting off that wood will either imrove fit for an indivudual or it may do just the opposite.

The rule is that form follows function...or at least that 's the way it used to be...?

My daughter has a long neck and a MC works for her.

I've always been a heads up shooter, pretty adaptable.

Monte Carlos function as do straight combs, its just that Monte Carlos are so damn ugly by design to my eyes.

Most likely is simply exageraion on the part of ready made stocks.

If the MC is as high as really NEEDED, it usually is not too bad looking.

Having second thoughts that this is walnut. Def not american walnut. There is virtually no grain to it. Never saw maple like this either, but..

Maple, oak, stay very light color when wet.

I've got blocks of
Euro, american, claro walnut,
Birch (m14 stock) (win 670 stock)
Maple blanks and cabinet wood,
and a 10 exotics.

Maybe euro beech.

Beech?

Try Timberluxe stain and finish, it'll make plain wood like that look much better.

i expected it was birch all the while - the wood is whiter than even sapwood from walnut

Go to your local vet and buy a bottle of Jensen Violet a walnut product, used for cut application on horses..It will darken most stocks and give off a purpleish hew..play with it on some wood and see it you can find the color you want and its water based. Ive used it on darker wood than your Stock to get a dark classic color that Ive seen on European wood big bores..worth a try.. It will sand off like most dies..allow it to dry a day or two.

I'm guessing birch but never saw birch get so dark when wet (water/thinner). I'll test in the bbl channel.