Cutting stocks on vintage guns

[Norton]

As I've related in a couple of threads, I got the wife her own personal trap gun for her birthday.

This vintage Remington 1100 Trap is from 1969 and has not only exceptionally well preserved metal, but also beautiful wood. I don't know what grade it would be considered, but let's just suffice it to say that it looks darmed good.

The buttstock has an adjustable buttpad that we haven't really fooled with since she just got it. We know the gun is far to long for her right now since it fits my 6'7" frame very well and she's only around 5'4" or so. We figured her LOP to be around 13 inches or so.

The dilemna: This will be her gun (though that perfect fit for me may be some sort of Freudian slip ) and it obviously needs to be fit to her. I have real misgivings about taking a vintage firearm in such well-preserved shape and cutting the stock that has in all likelihood been on it for 36 years. I know they are tools to be enjoyed and all of that, but it would almost seem like defacing a fine piece of furniture.

Am I being too sensitive? Assuming not.....where are good places to find stocks for this gun? I found Wenig and they have a "ladies cut" trap stock that would appear to fit the bill nicely.

Any other suggestions?

 

[DorGunR]

Norton
I bought my son his first shotgun when he was 11yo.......a Remmington 1100, the stock was also too long for him so I just purchased another shorter stock. He is now 30 yo and still has that shotgun and both stocks........when his son is old enough he will just put the short stock back on and pass it to his son.
BTW I was lucky enough to get one that matched the other in color.

 

[Norton]

My thoughts too. Besides, if she tires of the sport I can always refit the original stock to fit me

I don't think that will happen though. She was grinning ear to ear this morning when I gave it to her....even more so when I told her how I had found one of the same vintage as her.

 

[meh92]

I have a 1939 Remington model 11 and a 1965 Franchi Dynamic 12 ga. The Remington's furniture is not original, but it is correct. The Franchi's furniture seems original. Both will probably get recoil pads and have the stock slightly shortened to keep the LOP the same.

Neither of thee guns are in "collectable" condition but both are excellent shooters. As such, their value to me are as "shooters." A gun which does not fit me comfortably is not a pleasure to shoot, so making it fit (comfortable) is more important than keeping it original. I say cut the stock if it's a shooter and leave it alone if it a valuable collector's gun.

 

[Norton]

Good point. Trouble is, what constitutes an 1100 being collectible any more than any other 1100 That's my problem....I don't know enough about them to be able to figure it out.

I may just look into getting a replacement stock and putting the original one aside.

 

[rustymaggot]

getting a extra stock is all ok, but nothing says i love you like permanently altering somthing to fit your girl. kick yourself later if the hobby doesnt continue, or if heaven forbid, you two split up. but for now just cut the stock and she will most likely respect that you were thinking of her and not the possesion. women notice that kind of thing. maybe do the work together as a family project.

maybe im warped but i think things like cutting a rifle stock down for your wife in kinda romantic.

 

[meh92]

If a good replacement stock is readily available, then that wouldn't be a bad way to go. 1100's have that option I suppose. In my case, locating replacement furniture is a bit of a pain.

Good luck.

 

[gezzer]

It's an 1100, what collectable? All trap guns get the stocks messed with to make them fit dont' worry about it.

 

[Brian Dale]

DingDingDingDingDing!!!

Rusty's got it: cutting down a gun stock to fit your wife IS more romantic. She might like the nice wood that's on it, especially when it's tailor-fitted to her. Carve her a desktop pen holder or something from the cut-off end, if you want to.

If that feels too much like bubbafying a fine piece of furniture, then yeah: get another stock for her. First and foremost, find out what SHE'd rather have.

 

[Norton]

Happy Bob,

All she knows at this point is that she'd like to be able to get the entire gun >in front< of her instead of having half of the stock behind her

It's going to be a few days before we even get to let her try it out since she's really busy with gigs this time of the year.

 

[pcf]

If you decide to get the stock shortened, I highly reccomend Jack of Bart's Sports World in Glen Burnie, very good stock fitter.

 

[Norton]

If you decide to get the stock shortened, I highly reccomend Jack of Bart's Sports World in Glen Burnie, very good stock fitter.

That's who I was planning on having do it....he has come highly recommended from several sources. I got the gun there too