Cheek panel restoration

[Stan Hillis]

I've never seen this question asked or addressed but, would it be possible for a master stocker/woodman to restore a stock that has had the cheek panels checkered, that were not that way originally, by inletting a new piece of walnut over the entire cheek area and blending the joining line along the edge of the panel so that it was invisible? I understand that restocking is an option, but the rest of the original buttstock is in such fine condition, I would be hesitant to spend that kind of money.

Mark Larson has done such exceptional jobs repairing and hiding the repairs, and blending in wooden buttstock extensions, that I think he might could pull it off.

What do you think?

SRH

[fn16ga]

I have see some of Mark's work where he used laminate on cheek pieces to cover bolt holes , he does exceptional work , give him a call

[Brian Dudley]

I have done it before. It is a viable option over restocking.
The shape pf the cheek panel makes a good point to break the vaneer. Blending between the two is the biggest challenge with trying to get a “invisible” repair.

[eightbore]

How bad is the checkering on the panels?

[Stan Hillis]

The checkering itself is good, Bill. But, the panels had been "relieved" before the gun was bought by the owner prior to me, and had not been checkered. The owner I bought it from checkered them, which was the best thing to do at the time, seeing as how the wood had already been removed from the areas that are now checkered. Some might never notice it, but it's just not right for the grade, and the "borders" are entirely too narrow around the checkering itself. It's going to be sent off to be fixed, soon. I've got five guns off being repaired right now. I want to get a few of them back before I send the HE out.





SRH

[mobirdhunter]

I bought a nice old Parker DH and took it to Brad Bachelder for restoration (it needed it). It was pinned at the head and I thought it would require a new stock. Not so! Brad attached two panels that are absolutely undetectable, even under magnification. I still can't figure out how he did it. I can certainly recommend Brad's work, but hesitate to do so only because I have other guns I want him to work on(!)