280Rem, you specified wood, which implies a blued CM barrel, and that you may want some engraving. I had an idea while reading the other responses to your question. You may want to contact one of the large gunsmithing schools, like to Colorado School of Trades, etc., and see if they've got a promising student who's short of money and needs a donor action and wood to work with. I don't know if this is really doable or not, but thought you may want to investigate it. I think I'd call and ask for someone in the gunstocking dept. It may just be happenstance, but from what I've seen, guys who are really good with wood seem to me to know the guys who do good metal work.
Where money's a factor, this MAY wind up freeing up some $$$ for other applications, such as your engraving. Re the engraving part, check out Ken Hurst in NC. His engraving is really top drawer, and I understand his prices are reasonable for a man of his talent, ability and reputation. IIRC, he used to be the head of Colt's engraving dept. and is now retired, or semi-retired I think??? Engraving is the one area you do NOT want to "cheap out" on. I'd just tell your engraver what you have to spend, and ask him what he'd recommend. They'll usually have a better "eye" for things, and a feel for what'll look good and satisfy you in the long run.
You just might wind up with a really nice rifle for a surprisingly good price. If you can get a student to do the work, you'd probably have to supply him with the parts he'll need, or the money therefor. Not a biggie when it comes to things like this, though, by any means.
It may wind up having a few little "[bleep]" in it, like a diamond in the checkering that isn't quite perfect, or little things like that, but you sound like the kind of man who'd take a fine rifle to the woods for USE as it was intended to be applied to. Good! I admire a man who'll do that. IMO, it's a dang shame to let a fine rifle languish in a safe. They're GUNS, and need to be USED, IMO.
And let me tell you, if you really WANT a wood and blued steel gun, the stainless synthetic may seem more "sensible," but it'll NEVER satisfy you the way what you WANT will - EVER.
Get what you want - EXACTLY what you want, within reason, of course, and never look back. A man OUGHT to have ONE really nice rifle in his life, and he ought to USE it, too. Of course, you'll take pains afield to do all you can to avoid any "damage," but an "honest" battle scar or two really shouldn't make you swoon. After all, it's a RIFLE, right?
Opinions are all over the place in these matters, and this is just my take on it. I've wanted one for many, many years, and FINALLY, it should be ready this spring. I think I'll take a deer or maybe two with it, and then give it to my son. With two young boys to feed an' all the rest, he'd never spend that money on himself, but he'd really love the gun, and would treat it right, and USE it, too. I think I mainly just wanted to build the rifle. Afield, I's just as soon use my newly "customized" '03 that I did myself, mostly, as anything.
This is just my take on it. Hope it helps at least a little?
Whatever you do, just know you'll need massive portions of patience, as likely as not. This is NOT a speedy process, and the time thing is the demon most wrestle with the most, and deal with only with difficulty, at best.
