What are these holes for

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gunsaholic

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I just picked up this 30-06 for a winter project. I am curious as to what these holes were for. It already has a swivel, which I think has always been there, so I'm guessing for some kind of a bipod bracket? I was thinking of filling them in when I do the stock but if they were for a bipod mount I thought I'd try and find a bracket/mount that was close to fitting and put it on. Or am I off thinking the holes were for a bipod?
 

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I guess it may have been for a bipod of some kind but to me it looks like they just moved the swivel stud a few times, possibly stripped the holes out.
 
Maybe want to read up on what a schnabel was used for - Gil Sengel had good write up a few years ago - how to use it - July 2013 Rifle Magazine page 24, how to carve it, as original - September 2013 Rifle Magazine, also page 24. Sling swivel is to be ahead of forearm on the barrel - no chequering, studs, etc. on a fore arm with a schnabel - that hand has to be able to move smoothly - it is a grasping / shooting aid - not originally a decoration, although has apparently deteriorated to "decoration" status in past few years.
 
I bet it used to have a 2 screw sling attachment, then someone removed it and drill for a swivel stud.

Easy fix... Drill the holes out to a size wooden dowel you can get.. Glue and hammer in, and cut to length, sand and stain.
 
OkayShooter said:
I bet it used to have a 2 screw sling attachment, then someone removed it and drill for a swivel stud.

Easy fix... Drill the holes out to a size wooden dowel you can get.. Glue and hammer in, and cut to length, sand and stain.
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Yes, that was my plan for repair. This rifle is a Stiga. I've seen several photos on the net that show this same rifle as having the same style sling swivels as this rifle currently has and in the same location. The swivel that is there now is very tight and, going by several photos, I would say it is the swivel Stiga put on when they made the rifle. That's why I was wondering why someone would mount another so close and then I thought that maybe they were for a bipod mount. Who knows. But I think I will do the dowel and stain repair when I refinish the stock.
 
That centre hole of the three has had a "flat" either filed off or otherwise removed. If you are going to try to re-finish that, will likely need a "patch" installed - maybe like a "dutchman". I have robbed "patches" and also have cut short "taper plugs" from inside the barrel channel on a stock - to repair a hole - thinking to match the grain and wood species - then the "robbed" places were filled with bedding epoxy when I bedded the action into the receiver. Some others have also successfully "robbed" from behind the butt plate at the rear of the stock. Beyond my skill level to make such a patch "invisible" - but I have seen repairs on older fine furniture that are very difficult to see that there is a repair - I am sure that is all about matching up the wood grain and wood species so they respond similarly to the stain and finish that gets applied, and very close fitting - to the point there is virtually no glue line exposed. The normal "hardwood" dowels available at hardware stores out here can be used to "fix" the hole, but I have had very little success in matching that exposed end grain to the parent rifle stock.
 
Yep, I will think about which approach I will take. I will indeed have to make a patch for the center because it has a shallow square divet. If I can find a large enough matching piece of wood I may remove a large enough piece the length of the 3 holes and insert a piece with the grain running lengthwise and shape to fit. But I will give it some thought.
 
Potashminer said:
That centre hole of the three has had a "flat" either filed off or otherwise removed. If you are going to try to re-finish that, will likely need a "patch" installed - maybe like a "dutchman". I have robbed "patches" and also have cut short "taper plugs" from inside the barrel channel on a stock - to repair a hole - thinking to match the grain and wood species - then the "robbed" places were filled with bedding epoxy when I bedded the action into the receiver. Some others have also successfully "robbed" from behind the butt plate at the rear of the stock. Beyond my skill level to make such a patch "invisible" - but I have seen repairs on older fine furniture that are very difficult to see that there is a repair - I am sure that is all about matching up the wood grain and wood species so they respond similarly to the stain and finish that gets applied, and very close fitting - to the point there is virtually no glue line exposed. The normal "hardwood" dowels available at hardware stores out here can be used to "fix" the hole, but I have had very little success in matching that exposed end grain to the parent rifle stock.
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I would be inclined as well to patch it, if you (gunsaholic) can't find a close match try to change it into a 'decorative feature' maybe a diamond shaped inlay of a contrasting colour... another option is a wear plate, which you would see on muzzle loaders whose ram rod channels did not go quite straight.
Beware hardware store dowels, they are usually poplar. Too soft... a decent Lee Valley plug cutter (or set) is a welcome addition to everyone's tool boxes. I never have issues with matching plugs now ;)


gunsaholic said:
Yep, I will think about which approach I will take. I will indeed have to make a patch for the center because it has a shallow square divet. If I can find a large enough matching piece of wood I may remove a large enough piece the length of the 3 holes and insert a piece with the grain running lengthwise and shape to fit. But I will give it some thought.
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you might also try to source another fore end or stock from around the same time, same model... the wood ~should hopefully~ be somewhat similar in colour and density. The fore end if not usable can be used for your patch material. (assuming it's nearly free) Otherwise.. get it as close as you can and stain it real dark. (old shotgun fore ends may be a good source of patch material as well)
 
Yes, an inlay of a some kind would actually be a neat way to go. I have 3 old high end walnut stocks from shotguns laying around that I could get a piece of walnut from so that may very well be the way I will go. Thanks. I also have some pieces of copper plate laying around. I could make a type of identification plate like you see on firearm's. Hmmmmm!
 
My father did a lot of stock work and a mess like that or a drill that wandered out of side were taken as a sign that it needed a decorative inlay.
I'd consider a diamond of rosewood or something like that myself. Depending on if you want to keep the sling loop at all or not, you could incorporate that into a triple diamond too.
 
vagrantviking said:
My father did a lot of stock work and a mess like that or a drill that wandered out of side were taken as a sign that it needed a decorative inlay.
I'd consider a diamond of rosewood or something like that myself. Depending on if you want to keep the sling loop at all or not, you could incorporate that into a triple diamond too.
Click to expand...

I think I have a piece of ebony laying around as well as some horn blanks.
 
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