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I hate seeing sporterised P14's (or M17's for that matter) and try to bring them back to full military specs if possible, but there is no hope for this stock. At least someone has gone to a bit of effort with this one...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hunt...-569019375.htm
nice rear target sight though...see what happens when you smoke mind altering plants and play with firearms.
Looks like an Aboriginie's breakfast...
Isn't that a M1917 stock?
You can say what you like, but someone put a lot of time in that stock. It`s ashame that it wasn`t a sporter stock of some kind.
While time, effort and skill might not equate to value, there is obviously a good deal of each in the stock. Anyone today that would take an original and do that to it would justifiably be criticized. Back in the day when these rifles were truly dirt cheap and a glut on the market, such efforts made economic sense and offended few if anyone at the time since they were just old clunker military surplus. I collect period sporters and have three sporterized P14 rifles (.303, 7mm mag and .300 Winchester mag). Some of the work done up through the early 60s or so are true pieces of functional art and can be appreciated for what they are....and considering some of the notable smiths involved, have historic value apart from their military heritage....and can be had for a few pennies on the dollar of what they would cost to approximate today.
The lesser quality ones also have value for what they have become, a high quality durable inexpensive hunting arm (even if I question the maker's taste). The existence of low cost sporterized rifles, regardless of model, is actually the best defense against someone doing such to an original arm, since the cost of an original is now much higher than most sporterized versions of the same rifle (a case where a $500 original rifle that undergoes $500 of customizing is worth about a third of the total investment).
Richard, I really agree with your assesment on this issue. I collect both military and sporterized milsurps. I think the sporterized rifles are a great bargain right now. Even though modified you can still get an example of a rifle type that you may not otherwise be able to afford. Salt Flat
We have one of the old rifle experts in our city that I got the privilege to get an interesting 1903 assessed by.
He opened up my eyes to an area of rifle collecting that I did not know existed.
He calls it Folk Art. Not necessarily a lot of value in them, but some amazing work can be found. Not your glossy jobs, but ones that are unique done by gifted individuals who often do not use a rifle medium again.
That rifle is solidly in that category.
Its beautifully done. I certainly would not do it now to some guns, but some even today would not be out of line.
Thank you for sharing, I really like it.
The skill level, artistry and execution on that piece is phenomenal! My original weapons in my collection are all military configuration (I hope and think) but that piece really caught my eye. Thanks for posting.
Kiwi, looks like a rendition in wood of the tatoos the local Maori adorn their faces with in your country. Perhaps a previous owner was indegenous. Beautiful work! Regards. Tom