doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lengthening stock on immaculate old gun

First of all, a big "thank you" to all of those on here for providing such a mine of useful information: it's obvious that there are many incredibly knowledgeable enthusiasts and experts here. I'm especially appreciative of the balanced and detailed discussions regarding damascus barrels that helped me form a view about whether to shoot them.

I'm hoping that some of you might be able to help out with a bit of a dilemma regarding the modification of old guns to improve fit?

More specifically the gun to which this question relates is a wonderful damascus barrelled Reilly hammer gun that is a joy to shoot but would really benefit from a stock extension to get to my usual measurements (having arms like a gibbon this is a problem I'm going to face when I succumb to the inevitable "need" to buy another old gun).

Thus far I've tried a slip-on neoprene extension but it's proven less stable than I'd like, and the less flexible leather slip-on extensions are too small to go over the butt.

As a result I face a bit of a dilemma: should I take the plunge and have the stock modified with an ebony (or similar) extension or would it be sacrilegious to do so?

If the gun was a bit of a dog/a restoration project then I'd have no qualms and would get the work done in a heartbeat. It's not though, so I'm struggling to reconcile the thought of "corrupting" something immaculate that has survived 140 years without molestation with the fact that I will never sell this gun, probably have at least 30 years shooting left in me, and plan to have at least one or two days a year using it on live quarry...

What would you do?

Irrational

Though you sound not (at least not too)--note that the slip-ons come in different sizes for different butt stock dimensions. For instance, Gaico comes in at least 3--see:
http://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetLocation=%2F_%2FN-19500%3FNo%3D0%26Np%3D2%26Nr%3DAND%2528p_visible%253A1%252Ccustomertypeid%253A1%2529%26Nrpp%3D72%26Ns%3Dp_metric_sales_velocity%257C1%26Ntpc%3D1%26Ntpr%3D1

Best

Berrien

I like using leather removable pads on my guns to lengthen the pull, also. I use Kick-Killer pads, which are available in three sizes, in lace-on or with Velcro closure. I have not encountered a buttplate too large for their largest size, however, if you do indeed have one too large for any of the popular makes there is a guy in Carlisle, PA that has a small leather goods company called The Leatherman that will make you one exactly to size. For info and pics of his products you can go here:

accu-riser.com

The pad is called the BP-2000.

All my best, SRH

I like both Galco & Orvis recoil/slip-on pads. Both are made in the USA. Problem with those right now is that Orvis Pads are sold out and Galco Pads are hard to find too - even from Galco. Looks like Midway, on the Galco, has the largest size and the smallest size in stock but everything in between is sold out.

Irrational, it looks like you are in the UK so you could check out some of your shops there for recoil/removeable/slip-on pads. Greenfields has always been helpful to me located there in Salisbury.

But I do agree with Berrien and Stan, in that if I were you I would try a recoil/slip-on Pad before I did anything else.

Which way is the butt finished now ?
With a horn plate, or steel heel & toe plates, or checkered wood ?
O.M

Why don't you call Toby Barclay at Heritage Guns and talk to him about your options.
For those of us with a LOP of 15" and longer extending the stocks of V.intage guns is a necessity.

I use the Leatherman pads too. He has 4 sizes & I have them all. Largest fits, my 10 G Hammer Gun well.

Bass

Sir, There is a long line on the board about Reilly's.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=437168&page=1

I'd be interested in more information about yours....SN, name and address on the rib, patent numbers and photos if possible. Perhaps you could add it to the Reilly comments which would benefit all Reilly owners.

I'm not knowledgeable like others here about gun values. However, I have a 1905 William Evans .20, originally bought by a client in India, which has a lengthened stock with a now rather hard rubber recoil pad. It is a joy to shoot. It was originally so short that it had to have been bought for a youth. With this gun in mind it seems to me that stocks are made to be modified for the user. Right hand offsets are changed to left hand; recoil pads added, etc. and if you're adding to the stock, it can always be reduced again. Because if you can't shoot it, it's just a wall gun. But that's a personal opinion and others will hazard more accurate opinions about gun worth.

Based on what you say about keeping and enjoying the gun for a long time, I would take it to a good stocker and have him fit a closely matched piece of wood and then a nicely fitted pad. Quit worrying about the next owner or the gun's place in history. If this was the Czar of Russia's Parker, well...
JR

Galco is a great item.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Galco-Recoil-P...d=1040967417765