Re-stocking

[Maurice]

Has anybody restocked a production gun? I am considering restocking a Thompson Center .50 PA Hunter flintlock for a friend. Among other things, I am wondering what type of style/school the barrel might lend itself to - if any. It is 32'' long octagon to round, hooked breech. Currently half stocked - considering full stock. Previous 2 builds have been from kits and thought this might be a good chance to practice inletting a barrel, lock and ramrod from a blank. Would appreciate comments, suggestions and warnings.

[David Rase]

Since the PA Hunter is anything but historically correct the sky's the limit on what you want to do.   No matter how hard you try or wish, the parts do not line up with any particular school.  Many people have restocked their TC Hawken with a full stock precarve available from Pecatonica and used available steel furniture to get the illusion of a more period correct generic rifle.  Just do what you want and enjoy the rebuild.  Concentrate on improving your inletting skills and stock shaping like you mentioned.
David   

[Mauser06]

I bought one of pectonia rivers TC half stocks...





Poured a pewter nose cap...TC "replacement" steel furniture from TOTW. Lots of wood left so got to shape it and the lock panels a fair bit. Green mountain fast twist 50cal barrel and a L&R RPL lock. 


Currently working on restocking my TC Hawken 50cal in a cherry half stock blank...have the barrel about 1/2 way in I'd say.... besides pistols, I don't know if I will ever do another barrel channel lol...  Not sure what I will keep besides the barrel...I butchered up my factory stock. Can make nearly enough back selling the lock and furniture to buy a good lock and furniture I like better. 


Same reason...good way to practice....

[Hungry Horse]

Unfortunately, by the time you get new wood, a better lock ( especially if the gun is flint), and correct furniture, you basically have bought a kit. And, it is extremely hard to make it look like anything but a makeover. The T/C pictured is quite nice for a makeover, and is a rarity. That being said I have to admit to doing several makeovers myself. Most of these guns were given to me,over the years, with something wrong with them, so I really had nothing to loose. I have not redone a T/C, but have done several imported fullstocks.

  Hungry Horse

[Mauser06]

Hungry Horse is right...if you are going to upgrade or change anything, costs add up quick. 


Salt in the wound....I bought all the parts for the above rifle...I had a thought of a fast twist flintlock to shoot modern bullets...found the brand new green mountain barrel and decided to go for it... already owned the deer Slayer trigger and rpl lock.

I didn't have the tools or knowledge to do even a kit..or a place to work. 


The gun turned out pretty well for what it is and my lack of knowledge and skills.  It's crazy accurate shooting a full bore bullet.


I learned a LOT from stocking that rifle...I poured the nose piece and put in an entry pipe and to plate to learn a little extra from it.


Now essentially doing the same from a Cherry half stock blank.  Crazy I know....but, I won't have much into it except time...and should learn a lot along the way. 


The best way to achieve more than a make over look that hungry Horse mentioned is don't start with one of the replacement stocks...mine was a replacement stock but I posted some pictures here and got some great feedback on doing additional shaping etc.

If the barrel is good and sound, you can build around that barrel.. whatever stock you like as long as the barrel fits.  Kinda like what I'm doing now.  It's probably going to go more SMRish than Hawken...not that it ever was close to a Hawken lol. 


At least with TCs, you can often sell the parts for about the price of quality parts.  Mind blowing...my barrel is sound. I have a load that is accurate and deadly and enough of those projectiles to last for a long while.  I was going to sell all the TC parts or just leave it sit in the corner...but already had the half stock blank..was going to make a squirrel rifle with it but don't really want a half stock.

Hopefully when I am done I can give it to my dad and get him to start shooting a flintlock.  He's never fired one in his life...

[conquerordie]

I think the concern of making it somewhat historically correct are true. However, if you want to learn stocking from a plank, then the parts will serve just as well as any other. Use what's their as a pattern, and go for it.
Greg

[Dave Patterson]

Has anybody restocked a production gun? ...

Yes, I have, and have two main observations gained from the experience:

(1)

Unfortunately, by the time you get new wood, a better lock ( especially if the gun is flint), and correct furniture, you basically have bought a kit. And, it is extremely hard to make it look like anything but a makeover...

That being said, I need to explain my perspective regarding rifles:

It's crazy accurate...


If the barrel is good and sound, you can build around that barrel.. whatever stock you like as long as the barrel fits...

Personally, I place a probably inordinate amount of value in a barrel that shoots better than I expect.  Barrels that shoot far beyond expectation simply aren't leaving my hands; they're home for life.  I mean, it just ain't goin' anywhere, and I'll spend whatever time, money and effort I need to, to get that critter built into the rifle I want out of it.

On the other hand, if it DON'T shoot one heckuva lot better than I'll ever wring out of it, it's not going to spend much time around my house.

As Hungry Horse alluded to, I've got several I've spent way more money getting "personalized" to suit me, than they're really worth to anyone else... simply because they were proven shooters before I ever started whittling on 'em.

But that's just my view, for what little that's worth.