I have an old stock I'm reforming. It currently doesn't have a shadow line. My thoughts were to use a spacer and a scribe to mark the line use a file to form it then take the surface down to match.

Suggestions?

just a thought....use a soft pencil and sketch in the line....then using a 90 deg checkering border tool (and possibly a vainer too) cut the line about .03 or a little more deep.....then remove the material to be flush with the outside of the border cut. A medium cut flat file might do this well.

Use a divider or compass to scribe a evenly spaced line you can follow.

Can also be laid out using 1/8" wide masking or pinstripe tape. The suggestion to use the checkering tool to define the line is right on the money. Make the cut and leave the tape on to protect the wood.

OK help my old mind here. Are you using the tape, border tool, or divider to measure from a existing line? If so what. Sorry guys I'm slow tonight.

Shadowlines can be cut on most stocks. Find a stock pattern that you prefer....could be one of your own or a picture of one from the web or a book. If a picture, print it and expand it to full size on a xerox machine. Using the fullsize...either real life or copy, make a pattern of the raised cheekpiece and the stepped edge in plan view (looking at the side of the stock). Use something flexible...paper, light card board, adhesive backed vinyl (my preference) and trace a full size pattern and cut it out. Transfer the pattern to your stock by marking with a pencil (no magic markers pls)or tape the pattern down. Once transferred, give it a critical examination as it may need a slight adjust as your stock may be a slightly shape in the pistol grip or the size the cheek piece. Once the pattern has be set, cutting the shape. This can be done in any of the methods described in this thread. I much prefer using a 1/4" square file to scribe and develop the line and then finish it off will a smooth flat file.

Hope this helps. Cheers, Ron

Just use a compass or a divider to trace a line from the existing cheek piece.