Replacement M1 Garand stocks

[iamkris]

Does anyone have any recommendations? I've heard the guys over at battlerifles.com complain that the Boyd's stocks -- runs <$100 -- are "fat" (way oversized compared to GI dimensions). Weinig stocks are supposed to be awesome but the price follows suit -- >$250.

I just got a SG CMP Garand with a very low serial # (SA 198XX) but the stock has quite a few nasty gouges in it. I'd like to have a new stockset to dress it up. Does anyone have any recommendations for something closer to GI dimensional spec but less than the Weinig prices?

Thanks.

 

[Jmurman]

I am in the same boat as you. I am going to re-finish mine, in the same manner as "Swampy" did. Check out his links.

http://www.swampworks.com/SwampysStuff-Home.html

Quite impressive!

 

[DMK]

You can get an unfinished Wenig from Dean's Gun Restoration for $155. Finish it yourself and save some money.

http://www.dgrguns.com/0-main-page-stocks.htm

I've got a Wenig on my Garand and it is really beautiful.

 

[ScottsGT]

Boyds and Wenig is about it, AFAIK. I went with the Wenig and it is absolutley beautiful. Go ahead and get a fitted stock from Deans and finish it yourself. I found a web site on stock finishing that saved a lot of time and money. You just need some Boiled Linseed Oil, preferably the fast drying that Brownells carrys. Much quicker to finish. If you get serious about it, I can E-mail you and tell you how to do it with using the BLO and sandpaper only. No pumice and felt pads, etc...

 

[Swampy]

iamkris,

The unfinished Wenig is primo stuff.... and a set can be had for as little as $125, but they may require some final inletting.

If you buy a set of unfinished Wenig wood from Dean at DGR he does a pro job of doing the final inletting. I bought a set from him two years ago for my IHC Match Garand (you probably saw it on my website). I think his price for this wood set is still $175.

Finishing the wood yourself is no biggie at all. Actually a lot less trouble than doing a re-finish on a set of used GI wood. Not that I mind working with the GI wood, obviously, just as a comparison it's easier. A couple coats of BLO to prevent over-stain, then stain if you want it, then final finish with 3-4 coats of Tung-Oil. After a couple days to fully dry, rub it down with 0000 steel wool.

You will drool.....

Best of luck,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[iamkris]

Cool, thanks folks.

 

[greg531mi]

Midway

Midway has boyds walnut stock and handguard set Korean war set for $79.95 in their lastest frequent flyer Stock number #107-223 www.midwayusa.com

 

[VG]

You can buy Boyds stocks sets from Boyds for less than $80. I measured a set I bought, and they were anywhere from 0.100" to .300" fatter than any USGI stock I had. Their fitting is better than in the past, but they alsmost never fit without enletting.

The Wenig stocks sets are much closer to GI profile, and fit better. You can buy them unfinished from Wenig for $125. Or you can buy a set that Deam has inletted for $155. Top - Wenig, bottom, Boyds that I put on a diet with a spokeshave.

 

[Houndawg]

Bumping this thread to the top.

How much sanding did you guys have to do to the unfinished stocks you got from Dean? What kind of stain did you use?

That Wenig is beautiful, VG. Tell me what you did to it. I have a stock on order from Dean right now, and need to plan my attack.

 

[VG]

I used Birchwood Casey Tru Oil, a tougher finish than the stock BLO or "Tung Oil" finishes used by the military.

It's much shinier than those finishes, so I knocked the gloss off with 0000 steel wool after finishing. This stock was sanded down after each coat so the grain is filled in but there is minimal buildup.

What it looked like before "deglossing."