Folding Stocks

[3154tm]

I'm starting a build and looking at reproduction folding stocks. Those I've seen on offer look pretty nice. In doing a search here one of the people that posted indicated that they were all made by the same company in Italy. Can anyone confirm this? Is there any reason to choose between Sarco and Northridge etc other than price?
Thanks.

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[imarangemaster]

As far as I know, you are right. All the current aftermarket M1A1 stocks sold online are made in Italy, and have M2 cuts. They also lack the deep definition on the left side for the folded stock cheek piece. Years ago, there was another outfit that made a more correct stock, without the M2 cut. I found one on EBAY about 10 years ago.

The Auto Ordnance M1A1 stock looks a little more correct, and appears to be made a little different than the aftermarket ones. You may try to get one from them. I am not sure, however, if it will fit a USGI carbine, since their weapons are replicas, not copies. They do not have 100% parts interchangeability like the old Iver Johnson and Plainfields.

[USGI]

The biggest gripe I have with my Italian folding stock is the shape of the handguard and the rivets. The rivets aren't "correct" and are in upside down - the way it's made, the heads of the rivets come in contact with the action and interfere with proper fit of the handguard. I had to modify it before it would go together. There may be more than one manufacturer in Italy. I did quite a bit of research before buying mine, and it doesn't have a lot of the problems that I saw others complaining about. It could be from the same company though, and they just made improvements over time. - Bob

[imntxs554]

Also take a look at the M1A1 Stocks made in Spain and Ima-USA the IMA Stock a friend bought one and the the wood and metal are very durable, his looks and feels real nice and the weight was also identical to the original. There is a real nice one right now on ebay i saw last night and they give 6 payment option.

Frank

[USGI]

Frank: Have you got a link for those stocks? All I can find is the IMA replica guns which appear to have stocks not suitable for actual use. It looks like the handguards are attached by a screw down through the top. They say the metal parts are zinc - I read that as die-cast "pot metal." Funny thing I noticed is that their standard M1 carbine replica gun has a stock with a profile very much like the stocks shown on the New Inland Carbine website. - Bob

[cali201]

They also lack the deep definition on the left side for the folded stock cheek piece.

I have one of the Sarco stocks with the shallow cut on the left side, I took a sander to that area and deepened it, then a new coat of BLO on the entire stock.

[3154tm]

thanks for all the info guys, i pulled the trigger on one from Sarco today.
Cali, that looks very nice. i might give that a try. do the Sarco stocks lack any indentation at all or is it just to shallow?

[USGI]

The price on the Sarco is a lot cheaper now than when I was looking. At the time, the ones Sarco was picturing were a much lighter wood and the handguards didn't match at all. I was a bit afraid that my Inland wouldn't shoot the same in the folding stock, but I couldn't tell any difference - also the wire stock and cast buttplate didn't bother at all either. - Bob

[cali201]

The stocks have a shallow cut so I just used a small palm sander and it fit that area well and just let it sand away. I lightly sanded the entire stock and refinished it with BLO. In looking at my picture I am sure I added some small dents and scratches for a little "been used" look.

[Bruce McAskill]

Frank where did you find stocks that are made in Spain?