Cut Stock

[SouthernSportsman]

I posted this on the member forum but thought it might be good to post here as well. I am looking at an A grade that has the stock shortened by 1 inch. It's a shame because is is a beautiful piece of wood, one of the best I've seen on an A. The current owner has a spacer inserted between the butt and the wood adding 3/8" back to the LOP. He says the butt is factory original. The gun is otherwise in very good condition although little case color remains. I have never bought a gun that has been cut but this one keeps calling me. Is there a rule of thumb on how much the value is affected by the stock shortening? Thanks.

[vaturkey]

What is the distance from the front trigger to the end of the remaining wood? Perhaps a period correct pad would get you to where you need to be. IMO if that pad doesn't work its a pretty big reduction in value. All depends on the grade of the gun. On a Sterly a super short stock is probably 500 dollar reduction or more.

[SouthernSportsman]

The LOP to the remaining wood approximately 13 1/8". The LOP was 14 1/8" from the factory. If you left the 3/8" ebony spacer and added a pad it would solve one problem. The other problem is the effect on value and ultimately final price.

[vaturkey]

The LOP to the remaining wood approximately 13 1/8". The LOP was 14 1/8" from the factory. If you left the 3/8" ebony spacer and added a pad it would solve one problem. The other problem is the effect on value and ultimately final price.

I'm not sure a period correct pad would drop the value by much, as long as the next buyer could shoot a 14 1/8" LOP. If the end of the wood was 12 1/2" then IMO its the kiss of death as far as resale value goes. PS. Lots and lots of Foxes were ordered with a vintage pad with LOP of 14 1/8". Probably a Silvers for the older guns.