Can a Repro stock be steam bent?
 

I need a 3 1/2 inch drop on my shotguns. My Parker Repro 28 ga has only a 3 inch drop. Can these Repro stocks be steam bent? And done without ruining the hard finish that's on them? If the answer to both questions is yes, what gunsmith would be recommended?

Thanks in advance
Allen

Bending is a waste of money.

And the finish WILL get compromised.

I have never heard of an unaltered Repro with 3" drop at heel. Most were21/4" to 23/8" Brian is correct. Bending will alter the finish,possibly weaken or crack the stock. and will possibly spring back close to the original drop.

My straight grip 20 Gauge would disagree with that statement.

Then you were fortunate. It is a major roll of the dice.

Like Brain said it's a roll of the dice. I've had 5 stocks bent in the last 25 years with mixed results. All were for cast and nothing else. 1 Browning Superposed, 2 Fox Sterlingworths, 1 Parker G Grade and 1 Lefever. 2 bent and remained very close to the desired results, 2 returned to almost their original dimensions and the Lefever stock splintered into multiple pieces.

My suggestion is locate an orphan butt stock which you could modify to your required
dimensions.

Thanks to all for your inputs. I discussed this with Dan Cullity and Dan's opinion is in line with your's Brian and others who advise against this. While Dan has done this with other guns, he advised against attempting to bend a Repro stock down, Too many issues with the wood on those Repros he said.

I have had very good luck over the years, but I will add that they have all been relatively new (1940 Plus) and plain grade guns. Actually all turned out good. However, old dried wood, fancy grain or drawbolts would all be off limits to me.

I have a gun set that Allen would drool over! A Browning cased 2-bbl set VH12 in near mint condition, because I think, it has 3.5"DAH. Fits me great, but most wouldn't like it at all. I don't have to bend my neck one bit when I mount it. 26" and 30" bbls, both F/F. It's the nicest condition Parker I've ever owned and has not been shot very much. I don't think I've ever even shot it yet! I'm not thrilled by the F/F chokes in the 26" bbl set. The case colors are something to behold. I traded someone here a 20ga Repro for it.

I have had a Repro Bent down from 2 1/8" to 2 3/8" and then had the stock refinished. The bend took. The guns stock was perfectly 1/4 sawn and that IMO had a good deal to do the sucess. Above said, I had a Fox and the stock was bent twice and neither bend took. It is indeed a roll of the dice as Brian said. Ya pay your money and you take your chances.

Hot oil bend. Mine all held.

If the stock were to be bent at the wrist, would that not affect the position of the upper and lower tang in the recessed areas of the stock? Would not the position of the holes for the tang screws be affected as well?

I had two RBL’s bent with good success. A Winchester 21 that took the bend but ruined the finish. My A10 American went back twice to be bent. I did get the cast on to stay, but the drop could never be achieved.
I ended up having the comb taken down locally to fit me and then sent it up to Chris Dawe to upgrade the checkering and remove the high gloss finish.
Michael Murphys in Kansas did my 20 gauge RBL it turned out the best of all of my guns. The RBL’s and the A10 are all stocked with highly figured and very hard Turkish Walnut.

I've concluded that trying to bend the stock on my 20 ga Repro is just not worth the risk. Better to sell it and find another 20 with a stock that has enough drop that fits me. Dan Cullity and Brian Dudley ad is against bending and their opinions I hold in high regard.

This thread and your "My 28 ga Repro shoots high" thread both started out talking about your 28ga. and then morphed into talking about your 20ga. You also told us you need 3 1/2" of drop with your shotguns and your 28ga. only has 3" of drop. I'm a little confused and maybe others are as well. Maybe it's time to see a stockfitter before you do anything.

I think it is a case of not knowing what he wants.

Never heard of a Repro being anywhere in the same zip code of 3" DAH.

Richard the trade was between us many years ago.
That 20 now belongs to my hunting partner and has killed a fair number of birds.
That VH was a pretty cherry gun.

I have left both my Repros, the 20 and 28 ga Repros, with Dan Cullity and Son to have them fully measured against another sxs of mine that fits me perfectly. When we see the deltas between the Repros measurements against the "standard" sxs I've left them with, we'll determine best course of action from there. My good friends that I bird hunt with and who all shoot Repros have prevailed upon me to take the above course of action and not willy nilly put them up for sale. At the end of the day I want both these Repros to fit me.