Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Richards Microfit

Actually it was common practice to cure it in salt water. The Japanese later claimed it as a national treasure and would not export it any longer. I have a Peterson rollover stock in it that is over 50 years old and it is still as good as the day I fitted and finished it. Outstanding figure and color in it plus it is as stable as the day it was done.

Saltwater would eliminate its use in stocks... as Browning discovered too late.

My son recently purchased a stock from Richards. It was very expensive wood, and inlet, cost him somewhere upwards of $500, quite a bit more actually with shipping, and it was terrible.
The pistol grip was cracked, the inlet was way to far forward, resulting in the action being in completely the wrong place. The wood was not very decent either, with several flaws.
He immediately called them back and complained about the work, the wood, and the cost. They told him because it was a custom job he could go pound sand.

I have used Richards a bit in the past, but would never recommend them in the future, will never do business with them again. They are total crap in my mind from this point forward.
While my experience in the past was alright, this was beyond measure. The stock is completely worthless in my book. Cant fix an inlet that is over an inch too far forward. Pathetic work, terrible customer service, unbelievably bad.
I would build a stock out of an old fence post before I would ever do business with Richards again.
re

A drunk beaver at that.

I got one and moved it. Sold it to another party who was OK with it. I wasn't.

They have great wood, a good selection of shapes and styles.

If one could combine that with Boyd quality inletting, you'd have something. Until that happens, no more "microfit" for me. They need to research what "microfit" means or implies. What they have is a gross misuse of that term...

DF

I've got one on order...Winter project, hopefully the inletting isn't too bad...I ordered the Classic #102 for my 1930 1903 Springfield...

Eric, which winter?

DF

Ordered one from them the end of August, still waiting.

Wish you the best.

One I ordered for a Mauser had the bottom metal inlet way too long for the bottom metal.

It's easier to remove wood than put it back. And, who wants a patch job on a nice rifle. I sold it to a guy who was OK with it as it was.

DF

I read somewhere that they guy who bought all the Fajen patterns and machinery was opening shop again and is going to be making stocks to order. Anyone else hear this and know the contact information? If it were me, this is the route I would consider but since this is a new enterprise it may be wise to check references first.....

I used Fajen a bit when I first started playing with customizing some of my guns and my 'smith used them a lot back then and we always had excellent results from them. They also had a lot of rare patterns you couldn't get anywhere else....

Bob

Wish him the best.

I miss Fajen...

DF

I think the guys who worked for Fajen when they closed their doors are now running Wenig- if it is still in business.... However, from what I understand the owner of Fajen kept the patterns and tools until recently... Wenig is also a good option, but their prices aren't cheap and I've heard conflicting stories about their service?

Wenig, from what I can tell, is more of a custom or semi-custom operation, not a mass production facility like Fajen was. They are therefore more expensive, but do have a nice selection of wood and shapes.

I've never bought from them, was a regular Fajen customer back in the day.

DF

Came across this on another forum: https://manitoucustomguns.com/

So, that's where Fajen's equipment ended up, moved north from MO to MI...

Good to know.

DF

Well...I may be a fool, but I was hoping this winter.

Jump starting this...

I'm looking for a cheap stock to bolt a Kimber Swedish Mauser into, you may remember Kimber bought up a bunch of old M96 Swedes in the 1990's, either turned the original barrels for the 6.5x55 offering or barrelled them for the rest of the .308.

The gun shoots well but the Tupperware stock sucks big time. I was thinking of a grey wood laminate, Richards has them 99% fit for about $150 with a pad installed. Is their inletting any better on these finished stocks then what you all have been complaining about with the custom inlets?

Eric, ever get your stock?


thanks,

Rob

Buying one of their stocks was one of the worst mistakes I ever made. Your statement about them is being too kind Sir.

I think Eric and I ordered the same time (+/-) late July early August. I got mine in mid December and am just finishing it up. I was not disappointed with the wood or the inletting. But, as we well know, RMFs are not drop ins.

Never got the stock...Credit card not charged FWIW

A member here sold me a nice stock that suits me just fine.