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Military Firearm Restoration Corner

Oops Need Some Help


psuedoperson

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Well after what has been a very long time and seems like a lifetime I am getting back to work on my first build. However just before I stopped work on it quite some time ago I messed up on the stock. I was attempting to make (i'm not sure of the proper terminology here) a scallop in the front of the comb on my oberndorf stock and went too far on one side. Now I am unsure how to correct this. Obviously it's easier to take wood out then put it back. Unfortunately I have learned this the hard way. I have been reading on several sites about fixing stocks where chunks are missing by epoxying a piece in then sanding to fit. My thought was to try to do something like that maybe with a piece taken from the center of the butt from the heel end which would be covered by the recoil pad eventually. It is such a slight amount to repair but it sticks out like a sore thumb and i believe it will only do moreso once the oil finish is on it. Any and all suggestions please. I am quite upset with myself and really at a loss what to do. Thanks in advance.

 

Mattpost-5846-135121524749_thumb.jpg

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I'm not an expert on wood work, but I read. SGN had a couple of good articles on wood repair, and patching it with a piece of similar wood would certainly work. I think he used bedding epoxy with the color mixed in for glue. However, I think I would try to work with what you have, modify up the surrounding areas to blend it in smoother. If you make it look like you meant that to happen, it always turns out better than trying to fix it, in my opinion, and that's not just wood work, but anything artistic. I maintain that the best artists are the ones that know how to blend their mess-ups into the work. So, instead of adding a block, which will pretty much always look like an added in block, blend in the rest.

 

On the other hand, I had my Turk M98 30-06 glass bedded and teflon coated by a custom rifle builder. When he took the action out of the walnut stock during the glass bedding process, a chunk of the stock came out with it. He used some kind of epoxy filler, then checkered the area and refinished it. I can't tell where the problem was.

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You can always set the forward end of the comb back, creating a more open grip. Look on the web for images; I've seen some where the comb starts later than yours, almost to the rear of the pistol grip. The forward end of the comb really doesn't do anything, i.e., your cheek is nowhere near it.

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These stocks have the comb starting about equal to or after the bottom tip of the pistol grip:

 

Gary Goudy Classic, G & H High Comb Classic:

 

http://www.gunstocks.com/Stockstyles.html#5

 

 

Look at the Kodiak, African Mannlicher, and tiger Mannlichers:

 

http://kilimanjarorifles.com/features/geometries.html

 

 

Even Boyds' Classic (JRS) stock has the comb set back:

 

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/Classic-Replacement-Stocks-for-a-Mauser-Rifles-s/45.htm

 

 

Revolution Stocks appears set back far too:

 

http://www.revolutionstocks.com/savagestocks/savage110stocks.php

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Thanks guys. I posted this on another forum and got the same response. I guess I've still got alot to learn but I'm glad

that it's not what i thought it was to correct my mistakes so i'm excited to keep working on it again. I'll keep y'all updated

as i progress. thanks again.

 

Matt

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NIce Job what cartridge is it chanbered for?

 

 

Rod

 

338-06 and I can't wait to be able to shoot it.Hopefully i'll be making some progress in the next couple weeks.

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  • 2 weeks later...
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I agree with Dr Hess, better to blend it if possible. but I do know of a little trick used on guitars that I picked up from a luthier. I had some chunks missing from a rosewood fingerboard. Solution was to mix some of the rosewood sanding dust with superglue, use as a filler. The superglue is clear, and it makes the repair invisible when sanded. Depending on the area size /depth, may or may not be something you would want to try, but ... its an option. 

 

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Know the feeling well but being your own gun. If I were in your shoes I'd simply sand it smooth and live with it. 

Something I learned as a high school student in upolstery class. The tiniest mistake will always stick out like a sore thumb in your mind. Others may not notice unless you point it out. Everyone of my upholstery projects had an error and the only one to notice other than myself was my teacher. A chair I did for my mother sat in our living room for a couple years before she noticed. The tuck n roll seats I did in my 57 Chevy was botched up bad and nobody noticed. Had numerous people try to get me to make similar seat covers for their cars.The rolls on my bench back seat were not evenly spaced and some larger than others. A rocking chair cushion I made. I started out using blue thread and somehow finished using black thread on top with blue in the bottom out of the bobbin. Teacher noticed it before I did, afterward my eyes went to the black but the married couple I did it for didn't notice. 

If you show off your rifle, the person is going to look at it as a whole but your eyes will always go straight the error. I suggest you make the rifle look the best you can as onlookers will only see the beauty of a finished walnut stock. 

If somebody else notices, simply explain it away as your first project. 

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