Stock duplication

[Steve Havener]

In your experience who is providing the best value in precision stock duplicating?

[Dean Romig]

Brian Dudley does a very good job.

[Mike Phelps]

I just had Brian duplicate a stock for me. It came out great. Check out some pictures, here:
http://parkerguns.org/forums/album.php?albumid=482

His email is bmdgunstocks@yahoo.com and he's on this forum.

[Craig Parker]

Steve, you can't go wrong with Brian's work. I can't wait to see the next one he's doing for me.
Craig

[Brian Dudley]

In regards to duplication, your question is a bit loaded. Depends on what you mean by precision. Are you talking about a drop in fit? You will be very hard pressed to get that, especially with a hand fitted gun like a Parker. The only way to come anywhere close is if the actual original stock is duplicated. And even then, any duplication will require hand fitting of the action and final shaping of the outside.
I mostly duplicate stocks as required for the restock jobs that I do on a one off basis.
My normal process of duplicating is to leave the inletting a hair undersized and the profile about 1/16 to 1/8" oversized. The rest of the work is done by hand.
My machine is basic and get the job done for what I do.

Beware of commercially purchased off the shelf Parker stocks since they will most likely not fit very well. Unless the duplication is of your actual stock.

[Mills Morrison]

Another question is advantages/disadvantages of buying an orphan stock or having a new one custom made? I would imagine having a new one custom made would be preferable, even considering the likely increased price. Thrown out for discussion . . .

[Brian Dudley]

If you can find a good orphaned stock that needs little work and fits, that can be ideal. But if fitting and finish/checkering is needed, it could be about half the cost of a new custom made one.

[charlie cleveland]

what is the average cost of stock replacement lets say on a g grade gun... charlie

[Steve Havener]

Thank you all for your recommendations. Brian your work is excellent thanks for posting the photos. Mike you have a gun to be proud of. However, after considering all of the options and considering that I like to participate in my restoration projects, with my limited skills, I have decided to make the current ill fitting stock into a pattern and working through a stocker that has done excellent work for me in the past to have the stock reproduced by a firm that uses a Hoenig duplicator. I will have the stocker complete the the inletting which should be minimal and fit the buttplate and grip cap, I will finish the stock and send it back to the stocker for checkering.

[Brian Dudley]

At least you acknowledge that checkering is done last. I am surprised at the amount of people that think checkering is done before finish. And I have seen shops doing stocks that way too. It really only works if the finish is being spayed.

Best of luck with the project.

[Steve Havener]

At least you acknowledge that checkering is done last.

Not to be a smart "A" Brian but as they say out here in Kansas "this aint my first Rodeo":). If the project turns out half way decent and I can get my camera to work I'll post some before and after photos.

[Brian Dudley]

I only mention because at a local gun show I had a gentleman give me a disgusted look and walk away when I said that checkering is cut after finish.

It was an odd exchange to say the least.