If any of you are in the market for a custom build and you are looking to buy a blank, contact my friend David Boles. He is thinning out his stash, as he decided he will no longer be cutting wood. I know the number 72 and number 53 blanks have already been sold. Other than those, I am not sure. I am sorry, I cannot tell y'all which ones. If you are interested his contact is:

email: [email protected]
phone: (530) 586-1329

Wow.

Yes.. no other words.

hard to find wood like this- there aren't anymore trees!

Damm

Oh man! Lovely!

There's some special wood right there!

What kind of wood?Cut when? Aged how long and how? Measured moisture content? Price?

He can answer all those questions as he is the guy with the wood. I can’t tell you because I do not know.

10-4

Oh, Lord, lead me not into temptation…….

Wow indeed. I know next to nothing about custom stock builders.... are duplicating machines used to get close and then the hand fit and finish? Price range for a good stock maker to do the work?

Again wow.

i don't know the exact steps, but I know that a machine is used to cut the wood and shape it down into the "correct" shape of a stock so you have a basic pattern to start from. From there I imagine that it is put onto a stock duplicator which give you the three dimensional shape. once you have that, it goes into a vice so you can begin the proper finishing which involves sanding and checking the stock. Obviously by the time you reach the checkering process, the barrel and action has already been fit and shaped into the stock. As far as labor charges for a custom build (not including the parts for it) I won't go there...you don't want to know. Here are a few pics from a custom build my gunsmith did for my daughter:

I hope she cherishes it and thinks about her dad fondly every time she picks that beauty up for the rest of her days.

I am curious about the names of reputable stock builders who are still accepting work along with ball park price ranges. My guess is that finding a high grade wood stock rifle already for sale would likely be thousands less expensive than falling in love with a wood stock blank and then commissioning someone to turn it into a dream rifle.

Very, very nice work.

I got a "woodie" looking at those blanks . . .

Me too!

You got wood? Yup!

Nice. Thanks for posting.

I'm not so sure about that idea. I'm in the same sort of boat in that a buddy of mine posted a pic of a gorgeous post war FN Mauser that was built in the golden age of FN and I can't get it out of my head. I've looked online for similar examples but none of them are exactly what I would like. I have several donor rifles I could re-barrel and build up to exactly what I want but I want a stunning piece of wood on it. I'm going to use it for every hunting trip I go on, regardless of the chance of dinging or scratching it because it should be used. I figure under a grand for the blank and then over a grand for the stock work. Maybe I'm miles off with my guessing but from what I'm finding online, I'm not going to find a really nice custom rifle with the features I want for anything under $4K unless I happen to walk into a gunshop with a sleeper on the rack for cheap...

30 something years ago I walked into a gun shop and saw a Model 70 Super grade 30-06 with stunning wood on it. The price was 800.00 something and my don't use the credit card for something you can't pay off right away unless it is a need rather than a want mantra kicked in.

If I had a time machine I'd go back and tell myself to break that rule this one time. I've enjoyed some nice rifles over the years but I think my hunting memories would have over all been better if I'd just hunted everything with that 30-06.

32,33 and 34 keep calling to me. 70 and 71 are nipping at their heals. If only I were willing to sell a few other firearms I could probably make one of them happen but I just don't want it that bad. Yet.

Anybody get prices?

Again, you need to call David!! He has the prices. I am just the messenger. I wasn’t given the prices when I posted the pictures…

I sent him an email requesting prices and other info last night. Haven't heard back yet....

Phone call would be better, he’s 82 and not too savvy with computers and electronics

Okay, I'll consider that. But with so many blanks, it might be a long conversation. An email with pictures, reference numbers, pricing, and footnotes answering questions would be a lot more efficient to handle .

Where is he located?

Small world.

Image below shows numbers 72 and 53 sitting in my gun builder's shop. They're destined for a couple of high-end pieces, most definitely not for my consumption. .

--Bob

.

,

..might want to move them away from the woodstove..,

I have an email exchange ongoing with the owner of this incredible collection of wood, with details and prices for the couple that I was interested in,

patience is a worthy virtue,

Quote

I am curious about the names of reputable stock builders who are still accepting work along with ball park price ranges. I figure under a grand for the blank and then over a grand for the stock work. Maybe I'm miles off with my guessing but from what I'm finding online, I'm not going to find a really nice custom rifle with the features I want for anything under $4K unless I happen to walk into a gunshop with a sleeper on the rack for cheap...

You can check the gun makers guild website to get a lead on stock makers. And as far as the wood is concerned, I have a 280 REM stocked with a piece of Turkish Walnut that I paid $700 for. Not including the parts for the rifle my gunsmith charged me $4,000 for the labor which included cutting the stock , chambering the barrel, blueing and polishing, etc. The rifle was NOT cheap, but I have never regretted it. See pic...

David will work with you, but yes you have to wait...phone conversation is better IMO, but that is just me. I spoke to him last week and he informed me he had a guy agree to buy 28 sticks, and another wanted six pieces. And oh by the way, the guy who purchased 28 sticks: he said those blanks were running anywhere from $700-$850 a piece...DAMN!!

Almost looks like a Sako action?? Beautiful rifle!

The 280 that you see above is built off a Dakota 76. The one that you see progress pics of (on pg1 of the thread, the 243 Winchester) is built off a Sako L57 NOT an L579. An L57! 😜

Thanks! Never seen a l57. Very familiar with the l579.

Sweet rifle, very pretty!

When was the work done as that is pretty inexpensive these days?

Bump...

Nothing like a good stick of wood. Hmmm.
Where in TX are you?

Located in Houston but I have posted this for a friend. He (and the wood) are located in California... give him a call!

A beautiful Model 70 .30-06 checks all the boxes for me!

I was hoping the shop was here in the Houston area. I'd love to come observe and learn. Maybe bring my son so he could see some true craftsmanship.

Whoever cut those blanks knew what they were doing in regards to layout. Most of what I've seen come from Turkey are laid out like trash. Some real nice stuff there imo.

The gentleman knows how to do it, for sure. BTW, #26 is taken. Just sayin'.

So what's still available? NM, I'll call David.

I received a list of what was still available and everything I was interested in was either marked "sold" or "on hold". At the premium prices these pieces are listed at I'm not prepared to settle, but you guys may have different taste than I do in what you are looking for.

TTT

FYI Richards Microfit charges 120.00 to mill a blank you send them to any of their styles and actions. Then you or your gunsmith can finish it out if you're cheap like me.

I bought three of these blanks from David and realized I didn't need but only two of them. I bought a third for a rainy day but realized it probably will never get put to use. I will turn it loose if anyone is interested or might know of anyone. Shoot me a PM for more details.

I just received my chosen blanks from David, Just WoW! no-compromises, really great sticks here!

Incoming