How much would you pay for a new stock stock?

[22SqnRAE]

None of this can be rushed into.

Agreed, very much so.

[mr.e moose]

$500 US is too dear for me. Bill at Alberta Gunstocks turns out great Long Lee, No1 mk3, P-14 and No4 mk1 stocks for less than $400 CAD.
Final fitting is always required, if it drops right in you are too loose at the draws and every where else.

[mrclark303]

Complete 1950's manufactured beech No4 MK1 wood sets are still available (here in the UK at least).

I would assume these are left overs from the massive post war FTR rework.

These are starting to become harder to source however, with fewer available for general sale now and mainly staying in the trade.

A sure sign that stock is starting to dwindle.

The trick as ever is finding a good forend without'the twist' that so many seem to have.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

I suspect part of the problem with the "reproduction" woodwork is that it may well be made to dimensions taken from old specimens. If not of reasonably recent manufacture, there may be issues with shrinkage and other distortion.

The specification of the species of tree is critical. So is the nature of how the flitches (blanks) are cut from the basic "aged" log. How many manufacturers are likely to store finish-machined furniture in barrels of linseed oil for months or years? Unless the makers are actually fully aware of the final tech requirements of fitting and "treatment" of the tree-ware, they will not understand exactly what it is they are making to these "suspect" dimensions.

The ONLY way to get the numbers right is to use the correct timber, cut, cured and aged in the specified manner and made to the dimensions (and tolerances) on original drawings. "Non-critical" features like the provisions for the volley sights, may be "reverse-engineered", but NOT any bumps and lumps critical to bedding, and that especially includes the details for the fitting of the nose-cap..

The final catch is that the folks fitting this wonderful new furniture must be completely up-to-speed with the wood-to metal fit at each interface and whether there are additional "dynamics" at play, like all the fruit used to tune the barrel and fore-end of a No 1 Mk3" to Mk7 ammo.

[Agambard1990]

Thank you all for the replies. Yes, it does seem rather expensive when there are other sources in North America that would be more affordable. I know that nothing is truly "drop-in", but these seem closer than a lot of the recent EFD furniture sets that Brian mentions. If I were to go in, it would be a major investment on my behalf. I was planning on taking a scouting trip to the UK to see them in person and perhaps trying to return with one to fit myself back in the States.

The no1 Mk3 stocks would probably bring less attention than the No1Mk1s, but how many No1 Mk1s are out there that really need new furniture? I have one which is where all of this began. They don't sell individual stocks unfortunately, so bulk is required. It is something I will ponder in these coming months.

[CINDERS]

Southern Cross Militaria has them here repro's $485/Au postage would be inhibitive besides you probably wont be able to import them as the worlds gone crazy apparently.
Me I have not noted much difference in it since the late '70's!!

[browningautorifle]

Bill at Alberta Gunstocks turns out great Long Lee, No1 mk3, P-14 and No4 mk1 stocks for less than $400 CAD.

Great to know.

[Brian Dick]

Any firearm components valued for more than $100 wholesale require an import permit from the BATFE to be imported legally. Commercial shipments must be brokered and cleared by US CBP at the point of entry.

[bigduke6]

They look good, but think they lack the contours of the originals, the early SMLE for ends where very thin, and never had a straight contour on the underneath, there was a profile just before the barrel band and the forward of this to the nose cap was very thin.

There are some very good stock makers out there, they would be my first point of call, if you want quality then you have to pay the price, The only reason I'd be looking for a decent stock set would be for a rare rifle etc, even then I'd probably buy a donor rifle for the wood work etc.

[tiriaq]

Original stocks were cut using a series of single purpose, very heavy duty machines.
Modern stocks will likely be made using either a manual pantograph carving machine or a CNC machining center. The pantograph copies a master piece. There are a number of factors which affect quality of the product. My experience is dated - I used a 12 spindle North Star machine to make muzzle loading fusil stocks. Keeping good quality control to minimize finishing time was a struggle. Machines of this type are widely used to make gunstocks. Seeing the stock after it comes off the machine tells a lot more than seeing a sanded, assembled piece.
I have no experience with the CNC route. In the US, Jim Kibler is CNC machining a couple of patterns of long rifle stocks. From the photos and user reports, these are incredible. Swamped octagon barrels snap into place.