doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stock repair question

I am considering a purchase so am hoping for some input. Its a sidelock Scott. As you can see there is an old stock repair that is making me a little nervous. I can get no movement out of it and I believe it to be an old repair. It was camouflaged at one time but that is coming off. I won't be able to take a lock off to see what it looks like underneath. My hope is that the repair will last a long time and if it does give out then I will have someone competent repair it again. SO, is this a repairable area? Worst case scenario this repair does not hold is this the kind of damage the the "stock doctors" cringe over or do they typically say bring it on? The pin that holds the locks in is slightly raised but may just need a turn or could be a replacement, just not sure but thought I would include a pic of it. Funny, the repair looks worse in the pictures than it did in person. Thanks in advance. Jim

What is with the proud screw? I've got nothing for you on the repair without seeing the locks off.

Not sure why that screw is proud. I think it may just need another half turn but it could be a poorly fitted replacement. I will try to get the lock off tomorrow afternoon and get some pics. That should tell me a little more about that screw at the same time.

Re the screw, since the head is engraved, I'd bet on original and just needs tightening. Can't imagine going to the trouble of making a new screw that doesn't fit but engraving the head. Unless some gunsmith found a screw that only sorta fits.

Looks like the wood from the action to the joint may have been replaced??? It would take a lot of skill to make this a strong repair.
bill

I'd be very leery of that one, from what I can see in these pics. As Fishnfowler said, pics with the locks off might help a lot.

SRH

From just the pictures I have to agree with Bill in that it looks like a replacement piece of wood. Looking closer the pores look different and the wood is lighter.

On the side plate connecting screw, on the right side is it recessed or flush to the plate?

I'm a machinist not a gunsmith, but have "strong backed" a couple of similar cracks on Sterlingworths.

If you remove the lock and there is nothing else to interfere, and I don't think there is, you could dremel a small groove perpendicular to the crack on the horizontal surface, and accraglas a .060 to .080 diameter, grooved or knurled, steel or brass pin in. Cover it with a dust/acraglass mixture, replace the lock and it would be semi invisible with the lock removed. Then you just have to deal with refinishing over the visual crack on the outside.

If it were mine, that is how I would approach it.

Just a thought.
Hope this helps.

Bill

So you are looking at a repaired gun which the repair is stable but not invisible or even good looking right now. First thing to figure out is it a solid repair? I'd say yes because it is a fairly old one. Second thing is what does it look like under the lock plate? Don't buy it if you can not see what is looks like under the plate. It could be just the horn or half the head of the stock. You don't know until you see what is under the lock. And lastly could you do better? Well that is an old repair that has lasted for sometime. Perhaps that is as good as it gets or at least as good as it needs to be.

If you have to restock that gun it becomes a money pit. If you can live with the repair it is worth the risk if you can evaluate that level of risk. Otherwise just keep on looking.

The bottom ear has been replaced in the past. The question is how is it connected to the inside portion of the head. Just glued or interlocked wood and glued? If the latter it will hold up a long time. If just glued, the picture shows oil soaked wood becoming evident. Oil and glue do not forever bond. Yes, I fix this kind of breakage.

Dennis Earl Smith
The Stock Doctor