I am making a 1935 Bolivian Mauer in 30-06 and am at the stage that I have to decide if I should have a checkpiece or not and thought some on this forum may have a view. It is high grade walnut and I have spent quite a bit of money on this project so far. The stock is an English style stock, open grip, foreshortened fore-end. I plan on using this rifle for hunting and find that a checkpiece is often an annoyance, it hits my knife, belt, etc., when slung and think that they are kinda worthless. My question is: If I sell this gun in the future, by not having a checkpiece will I reduce the resale value and will it look kinda of weird to be sans checkpiece. Your esteemed opinions will be valued.
Purely a personal choice. I have a personal rifle way down in the queue that will be built sans cheekpiece and made a rifle for a client last year w/o a cheekpiece.
Most people want one, so it would likely be an issue for a potential buyer. But it sounds like you do not like than and that is what is important. Resale value on a custom gun is usually not all that great, and I would guess that any percentage imapct compared to your initial cost should be minimal.
There is no way to rub a crystal ball and know for sure, so I would make it the way you like it and enjoy!
Posts: 2509 | Location: Kisatchie National Forest, LA | Registered: 20 October 2004
Without a cheekpiece, it will be less representative of the best quality British style stock.
If that concerns you, then your stock should feature a British oval, shadowlined cheekpiece.
As for resale value, I would think that other factors, such as caliber, sights, quality of the wood, condition, etc., would be more important. But in my limited experience (and it's certainly true for me) I would say that most people do seem to prefer a cheekpiece.
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
Posts: 13880 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003
I like a nice shadow line cheek piece. If you were looking to sell your rifle and I was thinking about buying it, however, the absence of a cheekpiece wouldn't deter me from buying it if I liked everything else about it. I might wish that it had a cheekpiece, but I wouldn't discount what I was willing to pay if it didn't have one. I can't speak to the overall marketplace, but you've got me two cents worth.
Gentlemen, thank you for your response. It has helped me make my decision. All my rifles have checkpieces. I will have one without. Life is too short, and in spite of the fact that I am worrying about screwing up a seventy year old piece of real "French", one should make what they like. Thank you
Originally posted by Schrodinger's Cat: Gentlemen, thank you for your response. It has helped me make my decision. All my rifles have checkpieces. I will have one without. Life is too short, and in spite of the fact that I am worrying about screwing up a seventy year old piece of real "French", one should make what they like. Thank you
Would love to see a picture of your 70 year old stick of French Walnut.
I own a few grand classic early Niedner/Shelhamer and Griffin & Howe rifles without cheekpieces. Also, of all things, a Ross made a few years ago by Ed Webber. They look fine to me and since these are really collectors pieces rather than active hunting rifles I do not think the value is affected at all by the lack of a cheekpiece.
