Traits of early stalking/sporting rifle stocks

[Evanguy]

I'm lookin for common traits of early bolt action European stalking and sporting rifles. lets from from the 1890's to 1930's
English and German or anywhere in Europe

this is opinion based and I'm just looking for things you have noticed about them in general

traits I picked up on or noticed but could be wrong/mistaken (please correct if I am);

ebony or horn fore stock tip attached at 90* usually pretty short 30ish mm long
lots of drop, around 50-55mm and very little over the length of the butt stock maybe 6mm (mainly bespoke lee speed rifles, mausers seem to have less drop)
pistol grip stock with grip cap made of horn or none at all just rounded wood grip
the fore stock is more like a pear shape then round or parallel or flat sides
cheek pieces or not but none of the monte carlo style
slender oval shapes pistol grip more so then round or squarish
shorter fore stock length, usually a few inches shorter the the barrel mid point
thin combs

I'm sure there is more,
are they known for shorter, longer or average lop?
do they have much cast built into them?
what is the normal pitch for a hard butt plate in the early 1900's?

 

[conor_90]

Euro rifles may have:

Slight schnabel fore ends that are very thin
Rounded raised cheek pieces
Panels around the action with a thin stock elsewhere ( this might be towards the later end of your dates but I’m often wrong)

 

[DGY]

The pistol grip is was usually quite open/elongated making the distance from the front of the trigger to the front of the pistol grip longer(I’m probably not using the right terms here, forgive me)! The stock was generally thinner/lighter!!

 

[chasseur]

My Lee Speed made in the 20 s doesn t have a fore end tip or a pistol grip cap.The pistol grip has a nice domed shape to it and I much prefer it to a cap.The gun comes up to the shoulder with ease allowing for quick sight alignment.My Lee Speed barrel is around 27 1/2 inches which gives a nice sighting plane for iron sights.The express sights on it come on target very quickly.I haven t taking a deer with it yet as I m waiting for that trophy buck to come along to do the rifle justice

 

[9.3mauser]

Speaking for English makers, and not so much for continental:


"ebony or horn fore stock tip attached at 90* usually pretty short 30ish mm long"

It depends on the particular maker. Rigby & H&H rarely used forend tip, Westley Richards rifles are rarely without one.


lots of drop, around 50-55mm and very little over the length of the butt stock maybe 6mm (mainly bespoke lee speed rifles, mausers seem to have less drop)

The drop was set for use with iron sights. Scopes were rare and expensive in the time period you mention, almost doubling the cost of the rifle.

piston grip stock with grip cap made of horn or none at all just rounded wood grip cap

Gripcap could be horn or steel. Or, like Rigby light sporters, non-existant.

the fore stock is more like a pear shape then round or parallel or flat sides

probably correct, but the effect shouldn't be exagerated

cheek pieces or not but none of the monte carlo style

Again, maker dependent, but it would be a "pancake" cheekpiece. The style of cheekpiece that starts to flow from the grip is an American trait

slender oval shapes pistol grip more so then round or squarish

The cross-section of the grip will match the gripcap you use, normally a not-too-elongated oval. Grip should be open, but not excessively so. This is a mistake a lot of stockmakers fall into when trying to replicate English style stocks.

shorter fore stock length, usually a few inches shorter the the barrel mid point

Generally correct, often with a swivel stud soldered to the barrel.

thin combs

Also correct in a general sense, but think more tapered from butt to grip rather than thin throughout.

I'm sure there is more,
are they known for shorter, longer or average lop?

They tended to be stocked for offhand shooting, often in the tropics, usually between 14-14 1/2". Shooters used to shorter American stocks, or shooting with heavy clothes on will find this length challenging.

do they have much cast built into them?

Usually some, plus some "toe-out", meaning the toe of the stock will not be in line with the heel when the sights are level.


If a customer was having a rifle built "bespoke", naturally the stock dimensions would be tailored to the individual, but a lot of rifles were sold from stock. Every maker had their own ideas of stock fit, and if you went to three different makers to be fitted you could easily wind up with three different sets of measurements.

 

[Evanguy]

Thanks for the replies, I'm just getting ready to start cutting my walnut blank for a rifle I'm building and I wanted to stay true with the era I'm going for when building this rifle. I didn't want any 1940-70's styles mixing into my stock so I figured id ask for some common traits that were used in the early 1900's late 1800's

all great info guys, thanks!

 

[track]

Stalking rifles were either repeater or single shot. Had pancake/oval cheek-piece, buffalo horn trigger guard and fore-end, double set triggers, open sights, light or heavy scrolling, external hammers, peep sight, bullet/cartridge trap, grip cap bullet trap, schnabel.

 

[G.E.FLACH]

Westley Richards 425 missing the forend I believe to be horn.Note the cameo cheek piece.

 

[chuck nelson]

European stock design gives me heart burn. Puke.

 

[Slimbo]

I agree chuck, I prefer American style as well.

 

[chuck nelson]

Laughing!

California sucks as well.

Roll overs are for highways, and pancakes are for breakfast.

 

[Evanguy]

Laughing!

California sucks as well.

Roll overs are for highways, and pancakes are for breakfast.

well ill agree to that!

I like English stocks the best without any cheek piece
I hope to build something like one of these stocks

 

[conor_90]

Roll overs are for highways, and pancakes are for breakfast.