Comb Proportion

[Fiftyfour]

I could use some feedback on the size of the comb of this trade gun stock. I used some leftover cherry and skimped on the amount of drop
To make it work.  In the end I had to plane about 3/4" off the top of the comb and make a new butt plate to reasonably see thru the sights
As it has a rifle barrel.  I have seriously thought of making a new stock.
The question is, does the comb look to be small in proportion to the rest of the stock?

[rich pierce]

I would taper that wrist quite a bit both vertically by progressively taking more off the top of the wrist as you progress toward the comb, and make the wrist extension back into the buttstock more delicate.  This will make the comb more proportional to the rest of the buttstock.

[Bill Raby]

I agree with Rich. Nice piece of wood.

[smylee grouch]

The comb looks to be almost parallel with the bore which is what I would want on a light weight gun as you can shoot it with your head more erect which helps with any recoil problems. I would not do anything with it until I shot it several times to see if it works out for you concerning sight picture and recoil. After you have done that then make a choice as to what to do with the stock, keep it or make a new one.

[n stephenson]

You could do both what Rich and Smyleegrouch said. Shoot it to see what it is like . If it is not terrible , then do like Rich said and it will look ,and feel better. Besides if it is screwed and , you have to restock , you wont be out of a lot. It really doesn't look that bad. JMHO  Nate

[Hemo]

I also agree with Rich. It looks like the wrist just in front of the comb actually becomes fatter than the wrist just behind the lock panel. I think it would improve the look and accentuate the comb to take wood off the rear part of the wrist, to at least match the contour at the front part of the wrist.

Gregg

[Mtn Meek]

I could use some feedback on the size of the comb of this trade gun stock. I used some leftover cherry and skimped on the amount of drop
To make it work.  In the end I had to plane about 3/4" off the top of the comb and make a new butt plate to reasonably see thru the sights
As it has a rifle barrel.  I have seriously thought of making a new stock.
The question is, does the comb look to be small in proportion to the rest of the stock?

Fiftyfour,

You have a very "historically correct" trade gun.

One of the frequent complaints the Indians would make to the Hudson's Bay Company is that their trade gun stocks were too "straight"¹.  A remedy that the Indian often applied himself was to modify the comb and butt stock as you have.




¹Gooding, S. James, Trade Guns of the Hudson's Bay Company 1670-1970, page 68.

[Fiftyfour]

Thanks Phil, I guess I know how they felt.
Thanks for the reply, it is really neat so see that this was done to the original guns.
 I'm going to try to make a sling from a Canadian made  red Assumption Garter.
Still thinking about how to attached the sling.

[Eric Krewson]

If you thin and slenderize your wrist and carry this measurement into you butt as you fade it out it will look like this;