A III Custom Stock Project

[Bob LaRue]

I started this thread so members can see a piece by piece, start to finish, custom stock project. I’m building a new Custom American Classic, English Walnut stock for a AIII Deluxe to complete a matched set of 4 SAKO “A I”, “AII”, “AIII” & “AIII Mag” rifles.

 

[Bob LaRue]

Top is the completed AIII Mag, bottom is the completed AII middle is the AIII project

 

[Bob LaRue]

African Blackwood Fore end tip and recoil pad spacer are roughed out!
I’m going to put the foe end tip on before completing the inletting to save carving out the barrel channel twice.

 

[Unclekax]

I have always appreciated individuals that are skilled craftsmen.
Best of luck with your undertaking.
Most here enjoy seeing pictures too so keep them coming.
Kax

 

[Deleted member 14372]

Bernie says “very cool!”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Spaher]

Congrats, truly great talent & product!!

 

[marlin92]

Very nice. Do you use a duplicator if so what brand/model

 

[Branxhunter]

Definitely following this thread. I too admire those with the skills and know-how to carve and chequer their own stocks.

Question - why the Blackwood recoil pad spacer? Why not just have the stock blank longer?

Marcus

 

[Blip]

Great post. Can’t wait to see the finished product

 

[Bob LaRue]

Very nice. Do you use a duplicator if so what brand/model

Yes, it a 1955 model Canadian Stockmaker with hand tools.
Started with a $1,000 stock blank I bought 20 plus years ago. Started inletting in the barreled action and then and hogged it off until it basically looked like about time to get back to doing the final inletting

 

[Bob LaRue]

Definitely following this thread. I too admire those with the skills and know-how to carve and chequer their own stocks.

Question - why the Blackwood recoil pad spacer? Why not just have the stock blank longer?

Marcus

Actually , when I built the first stock for my AII, I had this idea to put a widows peak on the fore end tip to match the one on the top of the polished steel shotgun style butt plate I wanted to inlet. That started the trend on all 4 stocks?
The AI has a very small widows peak, the AII is a L little bigger the AIII Mag has the biggest widows peak on the ebony fore end tip with an exact matching 1/4” ebony recoil pad spacer so it matches in the back.
Caused an awe fully lot of extra work but its something unique and adds something to an otherwise typical American classic style stock

 

[Bob LaRue]

Finally got the fore end tip inletted into the stock! That widow peak takes about 8 hrs to mate up perfect to the stock. Looks good but not sure it’s worth all the extra work!

 

[Bob LaRue]

Actually , when I built the first stock for my AII, I had this idea to put a widows peak on the fore end tip to match the one on the top of the polished steel shotgun style butt plate I wanted to inlet. That started the trend on all 4 stocks?
The AI has a very small widows peak, the AII is a L little bigger the AIII Mag has the biggest widows peak on the ebony fore end tip with an exact matching 1/4” ebony recoil pad spacer so it matches in the back.
Caused an awe fully lot of extra work but its something unique and adds something to an otherwise typical American classic style stock

I used Indian Ebony on the AII English and the AIII Mag Bastogne so I thought it would be cool to use African Blackwood on the AIII just to see if anyone would be able to see the subtle differences.

 

[Bob LaRue]

Definitely following this thread. I too admire those with the skills and know-how to carve and chequer their own stocks.

Question - why the Blackwood recoil pad spacer? Why not just have the stock blank longer?

Marcus

I just simply wanted the spacer to get the ebony widows peak between the stock and the recoil pad. The AIII Mag has a 3/4” decelerator with a 1/4 ebony spacer!
I’m will be making the AIII 270 with a half inch decelerator and the 1/4” Blackwood spacer

 

[Bob LaRue]

Fore end is on!

 

[Blip]

Coming together nicely!

 

[icebear]

Like several others, I am following this with interest. I do some stock work but this is out of my league. The "widow's peak" joint on the forend tip looks fantastic - it's a personal judgment whether it is worth the time, but it strikes me as beyond my own skill level so I salute you for doing it.

The wood on the project stock is spectacular, to say the least. I will look forward to seeing it finished and checkered.

 

[Bob LaRue]

Like several others, I am following this with interest. I do some stock work but this is out of my league. The "widow's peak" joint on the forend tip looks fantastic - it's a personal judgment whether it is worth the time, but it strikes me as beyond my own skill level so I salute you for doing it.

The wood on the project stock is spectacular, to say the least. I will look forward to seeing it finished and checkered.

I expect to be done before Summer but then again it usually takes me 250 plus hrs so I might run out of winter just doing this one in my spare time.

 

[Bob LaRue]

Fore end is on and shaped!
Now back to Finnish inletting the barrelled action into the wood.

 

[Bob LaRue]

Fore end is on and shaped!
Now back to Finnish inletting the barrelled action into the wood.

Who prefers the widow’s Peak over straight cut on the fore end tip?
I’m still on the fence if it was worth all the extra work!