I have this piece of nice and heavy Bastogne that I'm getting ready to start fitting to my 400PDK. As you can see the cheek piece is pretty std with no shadow line.

I guess I have 3 options.
1) Leave it as it is
2) leave the basic shape and cut a shadow line.
3) Shape the cheek piece more like a Whitworth and add a shadow line. Kind of like the white cut out on the last picture.

For those that suggest a shadow line what is the best way to cut one? I invisioned taking a sharpe blade and scrib along a 1/8" spacer then remove the lower portion of the wood.

#1 what fits you best
#2 - what design do you like best
#3 - do what the first 2 tell you, after all its your rifle

quote:

#1 what fits you best
#2 - what design do you like best
#3 - do what the first 2 tell you, after all its your rifle

Darn you sound just like the wife when I ask her where she wants to go for dinner.

As to fit I've never noticed a difference in from the size only the amount it extends from the side of the stock. I feel it needs a shadow line.

However as to current shape with shadow line or reduced shape with shadow line I'm hung up. I have both and I like both. Just looking for help to fall one side or the other of the fence.

quote:

For those that suggest a shadow line what is the best way to cut one?

The paper template is what I use and then trace it onto the wood with a pencil. I use several flat and round files, once you get filed down to the butt "plane" surface put tape on the flat of the file so it wont cut anymore then use the edge to shape the shadowline. A round file and sand paper around a dowel above the shadowline for curvature

This one was made with files from a big ugly check piece. Experimented Sparying stain on to keep from wipeing out filler from the grain

I had the same internal debate a while back and opted for #1. I like the shadowline, (I have one on a couple rifles) and I didn't think it would be too hard to cut one, but I was nervous about screwing it up. (not the whole reason for not doing it lest ye think me un-bold...)

In hindsight I'm glad I did because it is the only rifle I have with a cheekpiece and no shadowline. Also, it was much easier to sand around the cheekpiece without the shadowline. It really does come down to personal preference on cosmetic issues like that. (and how much extra work you want to do)

I don't really care for the style of option #3, but I'm OK with it as long as it is done in the context of other stylistic work. Like a more European shape with schnabel tip, etc...

FWIW

I like shadow line cheek pieces .. if you have the set of barrel channel inletting tools, you can use those.

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if you have the set of barrel channel inletting tools, you can use those

Barrel inletting tools I have are sets of the round disks on a handle. Just different sized disk. What tool you talking about?