Thread: Walnut and blued steel,

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Attachment 105485

Will be selling thisnif anyone wants to put a cheeky offer in on it. I took it hunting the other day and spent half the day babying it to prevent any damage. Should probably go to someone that will appreciate it more than I

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Will be selling thisnif anyone wants to put a cheeky offer in on it. I took it hunting the other day and spent half the day babying it to prevent any damage. Should probably go to someone that will appreciate it more than I

$500.00?

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Will be selling thisnif anyone wants to put a cheeky offer in on it. I took it hunting the other day and spent half the day babying it to prevent any damage. Should probably go to someone that will appreciate it more than I

@Ryan_Songhurst
I disagree. You do appreciate it and don't want to bugger it up. The new Zealand bush is a very unforgiving place compared to a Bavarian tree stand where you've carried your rifle in a cover.
Nice rifle btw

Originally Posted by csmiffy

@Ryan_Songhurst
I disagree. You do appreciate it and don't want to bugger it up. The new Zealand bush is a very unforgiving place compared to a Bavarian tree stand where you've carried your rifle in a cover.
Nice rifle btw

Pfffffffffffffffftt!

Rifles are made to be used!

And unlike a poxy plastic stock, wood can be restored to its original state.

As for the NZ bush being unforgiving on rifles - yeah, but only if you stumble around like you're King Kong on acid - tripping up all the time and being incognizant of what your hands are doing. An unwillingness to marr the finish on your rifle can teach you a thing or two about moving silently and efficiently through the bush. The same goes for rougher alpine terrain - especially if you're hunting solo - if you take care with the manner in which you travel, you may just spare yourself an accident.

Sometimes it pays to be gentle v.s fighting the environment around you - frantically bashing through scrub; smashing your plastic rifle into tree trunks/rocks; falling over on scree slopes...it won't do your gear any favours, nor you.

The bush is only as unforgiving as we make it. And if a piece of gear can remind us to pull the reigns in from time to time, then all the better.

Just another perspective.

Safequeens and treestands be damned!

This isn't my rifle - but look how classy it looks even with the worn finish. That's what honest wear looks like.

Tops post @Frodo so true

Enjoyed your post. So true and a good reminder of loving use v’s abuse.

Originally Posted by Frodo

Pfffffffffffffffftt!

Rifles are made to be used!

And unlike a poxy plastic stock, wood can be restored to its original state.

As for the NZ bush being unforgiving on rifles - yeah, but only if you stumble around like you're King Kong on acid - tripping up all the time and being incognizant of what your hands are doing. An unwillingness to marr the finish on your rifle can teach you a thing or two about moving silently and efficiently through the bush. The same goes for rougher alpine terrain - especially if you're hunting solo - if you take care with the manner in which you travel, you may just spare yourself an accident.

Sometimes it pays to be gentle v.s fighting the environment around you - frantically bashing through scrub; smashing your plastic rifle into tree trunks/rocks; falling over on scree slopes...it won't do your gear any favours, nor you.

The bush is only as unforgiving as we make it. And if a piece of gear can remind us to pull the reigns in from time to time, then all the better.

Just another perspective.

Safequeens and treestands be damned!

This isn't my rifle - but look how classy it looks even with the worn finish. That's what honest wear looks like.

Yes but what you have stated isn't actually true. If you take a big gark out of a wooden stock you aren't going to be 'restoring it' back to it's original state - it doesn't quite work like that. Yes you can steam out smaller dents and to some degree scratches but if you have taken a chunk out it's gone ...

And yes that is a lovely rifle but that hasn't been carried around on the South Island tops

Originally Posted by Frodo

Pfffffffffffffffftt!

Rifles are made to be used!

And unlike a poxy plastic stock, wood can be restored to its original state.

As for the NZ bush being unforgiving on rifles - yeah, but only if you stumble around like you're King Kong on acid - tripping up all the time and being incognizant of what your hands are doing. An unwillingness to marr the finish on your rifle can teach you a thing or two about moving silently and efficiently through the bush. The same goes for rougher alpine terrain - especially if you're hunting solo - if you take care with the manner in which you travel, you may just spare yourself an accident.

Sometimes it pays to be gentle v.s fighting the environment around you - frantically bashing through scrub; smashing your plastic rifle into tree trunks/rocks; falling over on scree slopes...it won't do your gear any favours, nor you.

The bush is only as unforgiving as we make it. And if a piece of gear can remind us to pull the reigns in from time to time, then all the better.

Just another perspective.

Safequeens and treestands be damned!

This isn't my rifle - but look how classy it looks even with the worn finish. That's what honest wear looks like.

To a point I agree with you and I think you may have misread a single line about someone's else's rifle against what I do to my own.
yes they are meant to be used. yes they do get marked up and while you shouldn't be too worried about damaging them there should also be a hint of not trying too much like you commented on.
I have a friend who is like that, and I'd hate to see an expensive and or rare firearm in his possession. It would just get wrecked.
And yes that rifle is a classic, nothing wrong with a bit of patina-its lived @Shamus is closer to what I mean.
BUT if you have a classic rifle that's a minter and worth a bit I'd be like Ryan. If I knew it was going to a normal rifle, not so much. BTW I don't have expensive or rare rifles and the only reason mine are still in good nick is they haven't been out enough.
My old A5 shotty used to get a terrible beating carried through the gorse and blackberries in the old days. That's the main reason I got a set of synthetics for it.

@Frodo .... im pretty sure it was @Gibo that watched me do some extreme mountain acrobatics whilst using my custom rifle as a tool to break my fall haha. Somehow didnt suffer any damage but I would hate to do something like that and wreck a rifle like this, its not like you can just jump on the net and order a new stock for it
If it was a T3 then yeap sure, when I had my tikka stage I felt comfortable using them as walking sticks, sitting them down wherever and not worrying if it went for a slide etc but since this rifle is in such good condition it may as well stay like that.

I'm aware one cannot easily restore a wooden stock with big chunks missing out of it. If you're THAT hungry just take more food.

My point was: if you're careful, you won't have to worry about chunks/gouges in the first place. That means treating a firearm with respect and not dropping it, using it as a walking stick, as a tent pole, leaving it outside your tent in the rain etc.

Is a wood stock the most practical option? Not by a long shot. But if you're not clumsy, you can certainly prevent a wooden stock from getting completely chewed up.

And my other point was - by exercising greater care, you'll also instill dicipline in yourself. I.e always knowing where your hands/feet are; not rushing your way through tricky terrain; not dropping your firearm; always cleaning it/inspecting after use...and so forth.

Chances are, if you're diciplined enough to take good care of an item in the field, there's a greater chance you'll look after yourself too. This has probably saved my arse on a number of occasions. If I think there's a high chance of arsing up somewhere, it's probably not a place I should be going in the first place.

Why is it so many people end up falling to their deaths in the backcountry?

But I get it. I suppose it can be nervewracking dinging up a pristine wooden stock. (Wimps).

My offer of $500 still stands @Ryan Songhurst

Originally Posted by Frodo

I'm aware one cannot easily restore a wooden stock with big chunks missing out of it. If you're THAT hungry just take more food.

My point was: if you're careful, you won't have to worry about chunks/gouges in the first place. That means treating a firearm with respect and not dropping it, using it as a walking stick, as a tent pole, leaving it outside your tent in the rain etc.

Is a wood stock the most practical option? Not by a long shot. But if you're not clumsy, you can certainly prevent a wooden stock from getting completely chewed up.

And my other point was - by exercising greater care, you'll also instill dicipline in yourself. I.e always knowing where your hands/feet are; not rushing your way through tricky terrain; not dropping your firearm; always cleaning it/inspecting after use...and so forth.

Chances are, if you're diciplined enough to take good care of an item in the field, there's a greater chance you'll look after yourself too. This has probably saved my arse on a number of occasions. If I think there's a high chance of arsing up somewhere, it's probably not a place I should be going in the first place.

Why is it so many people end up falling to their deaths in the backcountry?

But I get it. I suppose it can be nervewracking dinging up a pristine wooden stock. (Wimps).

My offer of $500 still stands @Ryan Songhurst

The TL;DR version: if you're a mouth breather, stick to synthetic stocks. If you're a distinguished gent, opt for the connoisseur's choice - walnut.

Nothing a GST pen wont fix guys. They come in blue, black and brown for all touch ups imaginable.

Yes Ryan it was Nick and I that saw you go down. Bit of a worry with a bung knee

Originally Posted by Gibo

Nothing a GST pen wont fix guys. They come in blue, black and brown for all touch ups imaginable.

Yes Ryan it was Nick and I that saw you go down. Bit of a worry with a bung knee

Your black one run out yet? Horribly expensive pens

still in its packet, It will be antique by this years event, lets see if I can bid on someone's behalf and get more for it aye @Smiddy could give it some use for $200 odd I reckon

Originally Posted by Frodo

My offer of $500 still stands @Ryan Songhurst

That's after he's arsed up in the hills and taken a big chunk out of the stock lol