Where has all the wood gone?

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Is the wood fully bedded and free float? Coated in a strong shellac that protects from weather? Bipod mount? Lefty friendly? Adjustable cheek rest? And attractive looking?

Then I'm fine with it.

But I'd rather have a chassis or fiberglass stock. There's far too many pathetic fud rifles out there. It's challenging to weed out the olde school garbage, from the nice wood stocks. It's far easier to select a rifle with a known good synthetic stock, or a chassis.

The ring a ding Olympics, is getting old as well. Just give me a flat top rail.

Blue steel is absolutely sad. Rusting immediately. I view old style firearms as junk. Steel should be melonite nitride treated. Wood should be plastic.
 
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Poper said:
Is it all cutting of production costs or are our kids completely devoid of any sense of aesthetics?
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It's neither. I've said I don't know how many times that my retirement rifle, the custom built 308 Norma Magnum that I paid for with my first two Social Security checks, is stainless with a granite-grey synthetic stock - because I ordered it that way.
Aesthetics?!? I like brunettes and '68 GTOs. When it comes to guns, I prefer the "utilitarian" look .:neener:
 
Except for three AR-15 rifles i seldom shoot, all my sporting rifles have wood stocks, mostly walnut: i thoroughly detest Tupperware gun stocks. Despite having hunted in 115 degree heat, -25 degree cold, sleet, freezing rain, etc.; there has never been any problems with twisting, warping, and accuracy.

There is still good walnut out there it's just very expensive. Folks who have nice walnut trees don't brag about that fact because of thieves who specialize in stealing walnut trees.

3 men indicted for stealing trees from federal land (msn.com)

Kansas City man charged with stealing walnut trees, valued at $250K in lumber - Bing video

In the attic of an outbuilding are five black walnut rifle stock blanks to kill for. One will be on a 1940 Winchester model 70 soon to be built for a grand daughter. Those stock blanks and dozens more were sawn from trees taken from a power line right of way burn pile in 1967.
 
Wood has its place but I also can appreciate a well made laminate or synthetic. Durability, resistance to all the ills that befall wood (warping, cracking), etc. But when it comes to anything BP, it has to be 100% real wood (walnut in particular). Also, couldn't imagine an M1 Garand nestled in a synthetic stock, though I'm sure it's been done somewhere.
 
Poper said:
So sad.... :(

I was into Sportsman's Warehouse the other day to pick up a shotgun I bought through the online store. The gun racks were plumb full. Not a single rifle with a wood stock. Maybe 1 out of 3 or 1 out of 4 shotguns had a wood stock. :barf:

Is it all cutting of production costs or are our kids completely devoid of any sense of aesthetics?
If I can't have wood on my rifle, with very few exceptions, I probably don't want it.
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I have two great granddaughter's so I'm no "kid". I haven't owned a wood stocked center fire rifle in over 15 years and have no plan to buy any.
Just because you like blondes and I like redheads doesn't mean ether one of us are "completely devoid of any sense of aesthetics".
 
bearman49709 said:
I have two great granddaughter's so I'm no "kid". I haven't owned a wood stocked center fire rifle in over 15 years and have no plan to buy any.
Just because you like blondes and I like redheads doesn't mean ether one of us are "completely devoid of any sense of aesthetics".
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I had a RH friend once! tell you what!!! look at it this way, if you buy plastic stock guns, the grandkids will be more likely to shoot your guns!. I personally like both! (blonde and RH’s… lol) and if they started making Guns from light weight ceramic, I would like that too!
 
When I’m sitting in a tree stand I spend a lot of time looking at my rifle so might as well have something pretty to look at. Walnut is my preference, but I admit to many rifles with composite stocks.
 
I love the look of a walnut stock. I had to cut down a walnut tree to help out my aunt. I was able to have the trunk sawn into some 3” thick slabs. I’ve had it drying for the past several years, and I’m planning to make a wood stocked bolt action rifle…I imagine it is going to be a lengthy process, but worth it in the end.
 
I like both. They have their place. An AR would look silly in walnut. And my newest rifle is black synthetic. But, the custom I’m rebuilding? Walnut and mirror like bluing all the way.
 
Men have been taking care of their wood-stocked, blued steel firearms for a few centuries now. A well cared for gun will last many lifetimes while providing decades if not a century's worth of effective service.

'Tis sad that some have zero appreciation for history, tradition and the artistic value of fine firearms.
 
Old Dog said:
Men have been taking care of their wood-stocked, blued steel firearms for a few centuries now. A well cared for gun will last many lifetimes while providing decades if not a century's worth of effective service.

'Tis sad that some have zero appreciation for history, tradition and the artistic value of fine firearms.
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Bravo!! Well said. :thumbup:
 
bearman49709 said:
I have two great granddaughter's so I'm no "kid". I haven't owned a wood stocked center fire rifle in over 15 years and have no plan to buy any.
Just because you like blondes and I like redheads doesn't mean ether one of us are "completely devoid of any sense of aesthetics".
Click to expand...
Well, my ex-wife is a redhead, but we really don't want to go there....:oops:
I was very surprised that if you wanted wood on your gun in SW, you were completely out of luck because they didn't have a single rifle with a wood stock in their jammed full racks. As in NO CHOICE!:what:
 
Condor said:
I love the look of a walnut stock. I had to cut down a walnut tree to help out my aunt. I was able to have the trunk sawn into some 3” thick slabs. I’ve had it drying for the past several years, and I’m planning to make a wood stocked bolt action rifle…I imagine it is going to be a lengthy process, but worth it in the end.
Click to expand...
That’s Special! you got photos of the wood? any nice stripes or swirls?
 
JmacD said:
I like both. They have their place. An AR would look silly in walnut. And my newest rifle is black synthetic. But, the custom I’m rebuilding? Walnut and mirror like bluing all the way.
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I always wanted to do a AR front hand guard in Burch. I just had a huge Burch tree cut down in my back yard
 
Poper said:
Well, my ex-wife is a redhead, but we really don't want to go there....:oops:
I was very surprised that if you wanted wood on your gun in SW, you were completely out of luck because they didn't have a single rifle with a wood stock in their jammed full racks. As in NO CHOICE!:what:
Click to expand...
try Cabelas Gun Library! they should have a few
 
Synthetic stocks are more cost effective and less problematic compared to wood stocks. KISS applies Keep-It-Simple-Stupid applies.
 
I didn't believe it when someone told me this walnut stock made by Al Biesen was worth around $5k.

IMG_20191216_145139906.jpg

Still, I replaced it with a synthetic stock because I didn't want to risk damaging the stock while out busting brush.

IMG_20220430_204205497.jpg

I appreciate fine wood stocks, and the custom stock built for my Ruger Red Label is my favorite so far...

IMG_20201215_112415986.jpg
 
It,s the taste of this generation. Had some beautiful old walnut and oak furniture from my moms estate that would have sold for top dollar 10-20 years ago. Now they don't want it or will buy it cheap and paint it. I told them I'll burn it first. Finally found someone who appreciates it. It wasn't about the money but destroying quality workmanship you won't find anymore.
 
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