Stevens Model 311 Walnut Forearm | Forend

General Questions, Answers, and Expectations

Our unfinished and uncheckered gun stocks and forends are typically purchased by skilled woodworkers, gunsmiths, and others familiar with the term "rough-machined inlet." Buyers should have access to the necessary tools, equipment, and expertise required for safe gun stock fittings.

Important Notes:

• Not Drop-In Ready: These stocks require significant work to achieve a proper fit. Expect more than just light sanding and finishing; these are project stocks designed for hands-on crafting. Click here to view example pictures of our rough machine inlet stocks.
• Pre-Shaped for Ease: Primary shaping and inletting are mostly complete, so that you can get started. Some notches or spring holes may be roughly marked to facilitate hand inletting during fitting.
• Oversized for Customization: Stocks and forends are intentionally cut oversized, including the inletting from original patterns. This design gives you room for hand-fitting to ensure an optimal fit and allows you to remove any machining marks. Material may need to be removed anywhere from 1/16” to 1” in certain areas. Be mindful that older guns may have been modified or resized over the years, resulting in fit variations.
• Attention to Detail: Areas such as pistol grips and cheekpieces may exhibit blade chatter, leaving rough spots that require filing and sanding to achieve a finished look. Certain stocks may include additional material for features such as comb adjustments.
• Bridging for Protection: Narrow strips of wood (bridging) may be left at the top of some forend inlets to protect fragile areas during shipping. This bridging is easily removable with a small hand saw.
• Careful Fitting Required: Forcing a stock onto the receiver without a detailed inlet fitting may cause the sides to split, which is not considered a flaw.
• Customization of Butt Ends: Stock butt ends may need to be cut to your specific length of pull and may require hand-working down from as much as 1/2" oversize thickness to fit the original butt plate and pistol grip plate. For youth model stocks, further trimming and shaping will be necessary.
• Pre-Drilled Mounting Holes: Major mounting holes, such as those for stocks with a draw bolt, will be pre-drilled. Tang screw holes will still need to be drilled. Most forend mounting holes will also be predrilled, but may not be fully aligned and may require marking or starting during fitting. Expect to drill small holes for mounting hardware and the trigger guard screw during fitting.
• Custom Adjustments: For bolt-action stocks, unless designed with a right-hand cheekpiece for right-handed shooters, the bolt-drop cut may need to be created during fitting. Additionally, stocks are typically cut for a neutral cast, with right- or left-handed shooters accommodated by adjusting the butt plate during fitting. True right-hand or left-hand cast stocks may be custom-ordered.
• Model Popularity Affects Fit: The fit of stocks and forends will be more precise for popular models. To reduce inventory duplication, a single generic stock or component may be used across multiple models from different manufacturing years.
• Manufacturing Variations: When significant design changes occur from one model period to the next, those stocks will have a specific identity for ordering (e.g., Winchester Pre- and Post-64).
• Customization Needs: Generic cut stocks and forends that fit multiple models may require some minor inletting by the customer. This could include adaptations for recessed parts or accessories that are not carried over from one model year to the next.
• Natural Imperfections: Unfinished stock may exhibit natural cosmetic imperfections, such as minor knots, burls, heartwood, mineral lines, or minor fill work, which may be required before finishing. These are not considered defects.
• Inquiries and Duplication: If you don't see your specific model listed or have further questions, please email us with your needs. We can duplicate stocks from existing ones in good condition. For clarity, we may request a photo of your stock or forend to ensure proper matching.
• Sales Policy: All sales are final, and no returns are accepted. Only exchanges for unaltered, incorrect items will be permitted, with a new $10 shipping fee for stock exchanges.

For questions about your style, please email us a photo of your order at info@cottagecraftworks.com.