$5000 rifle stock?

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Trey Veston

Trey Veston

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Went to my nephew's birthday party yesterday and got to talking with his grandpa; my brother's father-in-law, who is a big time hunter and rifle collector.

I told him about the rifle my dad gave me for Christmas; a custom pre-`64 Model 70 Winchester in .30-06 Ackley Improved.

I told him that the custom stock for it was beautiful and was an Al Biesen stock. Told him my dad had several rifles built for him by Al Biesen, a local area gunsmith.

I then showed him some pictures on my phone of the stock and rifle. His eyes got big and asked if I knew what I had and what it was worth.

No, not really. It's a beautiful rifle and I took the stock off and replaced it with a composite that my dad gave me since the wood stock was too nice to take brush hunting with.

He then informed me that an original Al Biesen stock with that high of grade of wood was worth around $5k. Said the rifle was probably north of $7k.

Wait, what?

He said Al Biesen was a world-renowned gunsmith and since his passing back in 2006, his work has skyrocketed in value. He said the stock alone on my rifle was easily worth $5k.

Can that possibly be true?

Here is the rifle...

IMG_20191216_145139906.jpg

IMG_20191216_145123623.jpg
 
I have no idea what your rifle (or stock) is worth, I have never heard of the maker - it is a very fine looking rifle. I cannot equate money to relationships - two very different categories of value - one has nothing to do with the other - the relationship thus the rifle, is priceless.
 
It sure is a beautiful rifle and I am sure it is priceless to you, but I really have to question the $5k appraisal you were given for the wood.
 
Collectors will pay what collectors will pay, so if someone really wants that particular smith’s rifle or stock, then I might believe they could bring $7000/5000, respectively.

But the market of Biesen collectors in the world is small, even among the market of high end rifle buyers. An exhibition grade stock can be procured for $2500-3000, so putting $5000 on that particular stock would be an illogical stretch for anyone who wanted a high end stock but was not specifically looking for a Biesen stock.
 
I've never heard of Al Biesen. That tells us absolutely nothing, though. A quick internet search taught me that I've never heard of him because I've never had that much money to spend on a gun. It is a gorgeous rifle, though. Good luck with, well, whatever you decide to do with it.
 
Among my father’s collection are some firearms that carry a fair amount of value and by his word they will all pass to me when he is gone. What I want from that bunch is an old Iver .410 and his Colt 1911 that in my mind are “dad’s guns”.

The rest he used here and there, but I don’t associate with him so they’re fit for the auction block or trade fodder. If it doesn’t suit you or carry true sentimental value then let the collectors feed your needs and wants is my policy. That’s a nice looking rifle though.
 
Trey Veston

I have heard of Al Biesen and probably have seen examples of his work in various magazines way back when.

As to the rifle your Dad gave you: I would consider it to be priceless and a family heirloom. Enjoy it along with the memories you have of the man who gave it to you.
 
earlthegoat2 said:
The more they cost, the more I will use them. Otherwise, why buy it?
Click to expand...
For the same reason you don’t use a very expensive oriental rug in your mud room. After all, that’s where it would get the most use

I’m with you, in that, if I pay a good amount of money for something I’m going to enjoy it. That’s why I don’t get high end fancy guns. I could afford all I want, but having a safe queen brings little pleasure

That said, IMO the rifle here is more a work of art than something to be used for hunting. You can get something off the shelf for that. Kinda like getting bricks to build a fireplace in your Ferrari
 
My Dad never owned any guns, but my brother and brother-in-law both got me started shooting firearms when I was about 12. Before that, I
just shot BB guns and did that a LOT, wearing out two Daisy pumps. (I may have already posted this photo of my B.I.L. and me....shooting behind the house on the old clay pit when about 13 years old.)


. IMG_0301.JPG
 
I can see that. Not knowing anything about the maker, but just the wood alone for high end stocks can cost a lot of money.
 
5k wouldn't surprise me. Very nice wood was a LOT cheaper when Al built that gun, but now it is stupid expensive. I have seen exactly two of Mr Beisen's firearms in real life, both were truly works of art that function. I bet that rifle balances perfect in the hand and shoulders without thought. Al did VERY good work. 7k for a piece that fine from a master riflebuilder doesn't seem to be too much.
 
All though hi grade stuff on GunBroker might be priced astronomically, if you follow most of them they are not bid on or sold. Bids on gun like that is worth 7k$ dependent on rifle condition and the checkering patterns and embellishments. Today you can still buy the same quality of work from a stockmaker for around $7000, not including the pre 64 model 70 .
 
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Varminterror said:
But the market of Biesen collectors in the world is small, even among the market of high end rifle buyers. An exhibition grade stock can be procured for $2500-3000, so putting $5000 on that particular stock would be an illogical stretch for anyone who wanted a high end stock but was not specifically looking for a Biesen stock.
Click to expand...
I'm not quite sure what Mr. Varminterror is saying here, but if it's that exhibition grade stock blanks can be bought for about $2500-3000 he hits the current market about right, but I've seen some extraordinary shotgun blanks price and sold for considerably more. But if he is implying that an exhibition grade finished stock, as his tone seems to suggest, can be had in that price range, please supply me with name and phone# (I promise to keep it a secret.) and I'll supply a lifetime of orders.
As Mr. Gordon says in previous post, final pricing for high grade stockwork largely depends on extras such as checkering pattern. Attached in a rifle Al Bieson made for me back about 1980. I wanted all the extras such as his legendary recessed checkering, skeleton grip cap and buttplate and some other add-ons. It was more than I could afford at the time but I bit the bullet and came up with the cash because I knew it was a sound investment, and I want a fine hunting rifle. It's now a veteran of three African safaris. DSC_0284.JPG DSC_0291.JPG DSC_0289.JPG DSC_0296.JPG
 
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