What I'm wanting done is the forearm reshaped it is a wide oval right now and could really use a good thinning. Plus a new recoil pad installed, re-finished, and a simple 4 panel checkering job 18-20 lpi. While I'll tackle a simple refinish on a stock I don't have the proper equipment or work space to do this work.

I'm not looking for something to break the bank but I'm not looking for cheap either. I'm not in a terrible hurry for the work to be done as I've got plenty of other stuff to hunt with this year. However, I don't want to be completly gray by the time it is finished either BTDT with my .25-06.

Classiccheckering.com, talk to Tim Smith-Lyon, tell him that big Joe sent you. He's fast, dependable and inexpensive.
Regards, Joe

Thanks JD,

Checked the website out and his checkering is a little cheaper than I'd anticipated. I didn't see a list for other work, so I sent an email stating what other work I want done and if he will do it.

I'm just wanting my stock reshaped to resemble a M70 Sporter stock and similar checkering pattern. With that wide oval fore arm it just doesn't feel like a hunting rifle should. Plus I figured while I was at it I could update it with a new black Pachmayr pad and get rid of that old brown ventilated shotgun style pad.

I figured about $2-300 for checkering, $70-90 for the pad, and shop labor rate for the reshaping and refinish work. I'd normall ask Kevin Weaver to do the stock work but he has listed on his site that he isn't accepting any new stock work.

I said he was inexpensive and he is, but he's fully capable of doing the fanciest work too. Tim is like many of us, his wife is gainfully employed(G). Plus, the cost of living around his area is also inexpensive, it's kinda rural. AAMOF his shop is inside an old horse barn.

Not sayin' he's the best (he sometimes does those 'tacky' fleurs & ribbons, horrors the shame of it all!) but he's pretty darn good IMO.
Regards, Joe

JD, thanks again. Tim got back to me already and has a long lead time (more than I'm willing to wait) on any stock work other than checkering. He did send me another guy to contact that he said would do a good job. We will se how that turns out.

If the other guy is Billy Tierce, he's just as good as Tim but his lead time is also way out there most of the time. Good luck!
Regards, Joe