doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com value British guns with stock extentions

Keith,
I think it was referred to as a butt transplant. I think $800.00 is a bit steep considering Stan's comment of the effect wearing off.
I think just getting something that is close and adjusting it with an ebony or leather pad of a sensible thickness would make the mose sense to me.
Eightbore,
The case is an aftermarket one from Jeff's Outfitters, their toe under compact one.
Karl

Keith, I think a butt transplant is about a grand. Faux paint is less than $800, I think. I was considering it once and I think the faux I was quoted was about $250, but I could be wrong. A butt transplant is a good alternative to the high cost of a restock, but a restock will increase the value of a nice gun whereas a butt transplant, I would say likely not so much. An honest seller would reveal a butt transplant, I would think. I�ve seen a good one and it�s hard to tell it was done. Hey Karl, your Merkel is a pretty gun. Nothing wrong with a Merkel. They handle very nice in my opinion and the Germans sure know how to make a fine gun. I think LeFusil (Dustin) is all wet with his sentiment on Merkel guns. He�s right on a lot of other stuff, but not the Merkel imho.

Buzz, there�s no right or wrong, it�s my personal opinion regarding Merkels. That was entirely the point.

Hi Dustin.

Thanks Buzz. Not sure exactly what the cost was for faux grain painting, but I thought it was excessive for a surface treatment that could be scratched or flaked off. My own consideration for a true butt transplant would be as a do-it-yourself home gunsmithing project. I already have enough nice Black, English, Claro, French, and Turkish walnut blanks and slabs in my inventory that I am unlikely to use it all in my lifetime.

Karl, a true butt-transplant involves cutting off the butt section of a stock just behind the grip. Only the grip and head is salvaged, assuming those areas are in good condition. The idea is that a large part of the cost of restocking lies in shaping and inletting and checkering that area. Practitioners of this method typically make their cut in line with the checkering so that the glue joint can be hidden within the last checkering groove. The glue joint is reinforced by milling a mortise in front of the new piece of walnut that is being grafted on to the grip area, and a matching mortise is milled into the grip. This can be concealed under the trigger guard tang. A matching tennon is made of a strong piece of plywood. Alternatively, a large diameter hardwood dowel may be used if the holes for the dowel can be bored in correct alignment. The grip and the new piece of walnut for the butt section are then carefully glued and clamped together. The grafted butt is then shaped to your preferred dimensions and as stated earlier, a checkering tool cuts a new line of checkering at the glue joint to help conceal it. As Buzz says, when done well, it is extremely hard to detect, and should be as strong as new wood.

When a one or two inch piece of walnut is spliced on to the rear of a stock to make the L.O.P. longer for a gun that was cut off or too short to begin with, that is simply a butt extension. Some people will cut off a stock to shorten a gun for their kid, and save the cut off piece to glue back on later when he grows up. Since this involves using the original wood, the color and grain match is almost perfect except for the saw kerf loss. But a cross-cut glue joint will always stick out like a sore thumb unless you resort to the faux grain painting.

By the way, I didn't think Dustin's comment concerning Merkels was trolling... just a matter of his own personal tastes in guns. Nothing wrong with that. But I did think this comment whining about killing a coyote with a 10 gauge loaded with #5 shot was trolling on a gun and hunting related forum:

Interesting, as I was offered a nice gun that was shortened by the previous owner. I might have been tempted to purchase had he saved the piece that was removed.
Buzz, Dustin isn't wet at all. As I said, Merkels are definately an aquired taste (taste being subjective). I love my 28,20,and 12 to distraction.
Karl

Karl, no worries....Dustin and I are good buddies. I�ve handled some really nice small bore Merkel guns, but haven�t shot any (I owned a 28 b but traded it before I ever shot it....kind of crazy). They are pretty well balanced, I think, but I don�t have much experience. Maybe, Dustin would like the Merkel if he handled and shot one ? Nevertheless, when we meet up at the Lapeer shoot, maybe you could let me take a couple shots with one of your smallbores? I�m looking forward to that shoot, and meeting you and some of the other guys here. I googled my trip and I-69 takes me right there, only about 5 hours from Indianapolis. Pretty easy Peezy. See you on May 12th!

Buzz,
Last year I used my baby framed Merkel 28 at the shoot. If you like I can bring it for you to shoot, or the custom 20 which is nice also. This year I'm bringing old faithful, my Browning bss-sl 12 bore.
Karl

Goodness Gracious.

I know I said previously that I�d never own one....

Truth be known....I�ve owned several Merkels. Over the years, I�ve owned many Teutonic guns believe it or not. Simsons. Sauers. Kerners. I know exactly how these guns handle. I know exactly how well built they can be. I also know exactly what their short comings are. I usually don�t offer up an opinion unless I�m experienced. I try not to make it a habit of commenting on things I know nothing about. I think Merkel o/u�s are ugly too, but I absolutely love how they feel in my hands and I like shooting them. I can overlook a good prewar German o/u�s aesthetic short comings just because of how much I like how they feel in my hands. Trim, sleek, fast & strong.....butt ugly. I�m ok with that.

Moving on....

The original statement...I would rather have a gun that has been resleeved than one with a stock extension. I was taught the barrels are the gun. With a gentleman's height at the turn of the century much smaller than it is today, modifications would be necessary. I am happy with a wood extension as long as the gun fits.