stock straightening

[Dean Romig]

Mike altered the chokes on a set of grade-1 Laminated Steel barrels for me about 5 years ago.






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[Tracy Pellett]

I have sent 4 guns to Dan Morgan in Vermont , all of them were English stocks . The first two were a Parker and a Fox which had both been restocked. I wanted about an 1” positive cast and he was able to get them where I wanted them . I asked him about bending a pistol grip and he said if it would bend he could only get 1/8” , I didn’t send him the pistol grip . Last mouth I sent him a 1925 Wesley Richards drop lock and a Fox SP Skeet both with original stocks . He was able to get almost what I wanted in the WR but couldn’t get the Fox to move at all . I know there’s a chance for them to move but $500 for bending is cheaper than a new stock . I’m have a pistol grip stock made for a Parker DHE 20 gauge by Wenig Custom Gunstocks and could buy a nice Parker for what I’m paying for the stock. That’s my 2 cent worth on bending stocks. Tracy Pellett

[ArtS]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Mike altered the chokes on a set of grade-1 Laminated Steel barrels for me about 5 years ago.






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I have had Mike work on guns several years ago, barrel work and stock bending both. His work was excellent. About two years ago I wanted a set of Parker composite barrels bored out slightly to remove some pitting. Barrel thickness was good. I contacted him and was told he didn't do composite barrels. This may have been a temporary thing but I haven't approached him about it since. I found that Skeets Gunshop does an excellent job on them and has quick turnaround and good prices.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Arthur Shaffer

. I contacted him .

That, in itself, was quite a chore, He's terrible about answering his phone. I found, in the past, that it's best to call him before 8am.

Sadly, Mitch Shultz, has retired, but we talked about honing, or opening chokes on composite barrels. His take on it was that from a practical point, there is no reason to avoid this type of work, and he believed the reluctance of others came down a liability concern, but not a metallurgical one.

[ArtS]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

That, in itself, was quite a chore, He's terrible about answering his phone. I found, in the past, that it's best to call him before 8am.

Sadly, Mitch Shultz, has retired, but we talked about honing, or opening chokes on composite barrels. His take on it was that from a practical point, there is no reason to avoid this type of work, and he believed the reluctance of others came down a liability concern, but not a metallurgical one.

I have been told the same about the physical work. Most people who do any of this have told me that the composite barrels are softer and much easier to bore or hone. I was told this by Skeets when I had the latest barrel bored.

Also, there is a question of boring vs honing. It takes a good inventory of reamers to cover the honing requirements, but the cost of significant removal can be half the job cost when paying for hones. From the smith standpoint I suspect that their preference would be to bore and then polish.