I have a M98 project in its final stages, stock work, and need help in determining cost. Heres the quote I got from a guy here in Tx that I thought was awefully high

decelorater pad and installed
ebony tip
finish shaping, sanding and oil finish
checkering, nothing fancy just straight line at forend and grip
(1) instalation of a Dakota inset sling swivel

Stock is a Boyd's walnut and the gunsmith bedded it and it is fully inletted.

This guy wants 1000.00 and 2 monthes to do the work. Thoughts from you guys.

Perry

I can only relate to what I have done for my self and that is.... it takes a lot of time to finish a stock. So far I have at least $200 plus in tools such as files and scrapers, and at least 40 plus hours labor in a semi finished stock and still have a ways to go add the cost of the stock at $250 I am almost half way there to the $1000 mark. I don't include checkering because I don't know how and not interested in learning at this point but that is also time consuming and the tools for that are not cheap.
Guess what I am trying to say is that that I don't think the price is excessive or out of line if you want a quality stock made from a nice piece of wood.
I don't know about how Boyds stock is finished but I gave up on them sometime back due to the quality of the wood I received.

I personally would not use a boyds walnut. Slabsawn, utility wood, probably will have sap wood...

that is a very low price and ultra-very fast turn around. I would want to see examples of the work to know what exactly you were getting for the low price. I would be leary of the quality level. Could be OK, but I would want to see some finished work to be sure.

I also would not use Boyd's for this project. My only experience with them was not positive.

If you have some time and some woodworking skills, you could do it. Lots of folks here to ask for pointers if you get stuck and need help on something. I am just throwing that out there because it is the only way I know of to get the project doen for less money than that.

Barring that, I would get ready to spend 2 1/2 times +. And expect the wait to be significantly longer too. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that is the market.

If the stock is bought, inletted and bedded I would think you could get it done for less than $1000.

Sounds pretty reasonable to me.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

You can get it for a grand and you can pay the price Marc is talking about and you can also get it cheaper. Since you went with a Boyds stock I'm sure you're not looking for a show piece and it probably doesn't warrant the money. Finish shaping, ebony tip and the sling swivels are projects you can do if you're inclined. Send it off for a pad and try Alhmans in Mn for checkering and you'll be way under 1k.

Check manufacturer's prices for comparable services:

Serengetti Stockworks - about $1995

or, If I had to guess and break it down by hours and materials:

Pad: #35.00
Install pad: about 3/4 hours
Ebony for tip: $15.00
Install tip: about 3/4 hors
Rough shape tip: about 1/2 hour
Final shape stock: about 1 to 4 hours depending on what you want (say 2 hours average)
Dakota Swivel: $15.00
Inlet dakota swivel: 1/2 hour
Final sand to 600-grit: about 4 hours
Built-up oil Finish, 6 coats: about 6 hours
Basic chechering job: about 6 hours

So, Parts - about $65, Labor - about 20-1/2 hours at say $50.00 per hour to cover labor plus overhead (which means that he is paying hiself maybe $25.00 per hour). We are at $1,090.00. In my opinion, if the gunsmith is competent, than $1,000 is not out of line.

quote:

If you have some time and some woodworking skills, you could do it. Lots of folks here to ask for pointers if you get stuck and need help on something.

He said a mouthful! It will also be most rewarding. OK, Chic, I will also add having some patience.

From Loud-N-Boomer's comments, I will say that it takes me lots longer, but I am NOT a professional. The work you do will also be totally to your taste, regardless of how eccentric it may be. Hell, I am working on one now that is Hawaiian Koa that will probably have a dark chocolate type of wood (not sure what kind yet) schnabel forend and solid wood buttplate of the same material, with a brass grip cap. Try doing things yourself.

But to answer your question, that is a reasonable to cheap price. Inexpensive checkering will be 1/4 of that since Bill Soverns quit his basic rate.

If the barreled action is already bedded then IMO the hard work is done already.

Installing ebony and recoil pads isn't real difficult but inletting Dakota swivels takes a bit of doing if you don't have a mill.

When I finish a stock I install a larger number of coats until the pores are filed and often this is a very large number of hours of work. $1,000 for all this isn't at all bad if the work is done well.

Checkering (and shipping to and from a person that does it) is easily $150 for a simple pattern and can run far far more for other patterns.

If the person says he can do it in two months then he don't have a lot of work to do and I'd be cautious about the quality.....make sure you see the work before sending work out and sending checks as well.

I had a fancy stock made for one of my Shotguns an over & under. About 4 years ago . Checkering custom fit ( I did the finishing work ) It was sanded too 400 grit when I picked it up and paid for it . $ 800.00 I thought it was a deal because the blank was $300.00 and the stock was beautiful as was the workmanship .

Ask for references as to customers and see what theirs look like . Quality craftsman are all to happy to show what they can do . Price sounds real reasonable .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

well, tell us about the stock you are working from... do you want to spend 1k on it? if not, well, it's not what you want to do.

The price isn't badly out of line, and with the timeline, its not bad.

but do you really want to do that on a boyd's stock?

The price quoted me for a similar project:

If I supplied the turned wood, $1,000 for my 2 piece stock, with no checkering (this is for a single shot).

I think the cost quoted you was in the same ballpark as most stockmakers.

Garrett

Thanks guys for all the input. The stock is XX walnut and exceptionally nice for a Boyd's. I let 4 people who's opion I value look at it and they all thought it was a great looking piece of wood. I called the guy this evening and told him to get on it. I will post pics when it is all done. Thanks again!

Perry

Remember to post pictures when it is done!

like it were a new child!

perry