History on past stock makers

[Chopper]

Does anyone have some history on previous stock makers, LBW , BLACKLOW ? Geoff Slee I know , ? or knew , I have been around a little while , But they are not talked about , Hard Yakka I know , Before CNC, I have some of them and even a Pavey full wood, and M17, Chop

[plumbs7]

I have a LBW on an omark ! Great rifle and stock!

[Razer]

I have a Lionel Weekes laminated stock on an Angel. Bill Healds from Parkes made good stocks and I have a walnut stock on an
Omark and a Fclass stock on a Barnard.
Bill gave up stock making about 4 or so years ago as I saw his gear advertised.

[Chopper]

i have just finished putting in a Sako 85 into , Maybe one of Bills last thumbhole stocks, as he can rough cut But not inlet, , a headache , But nice hands on work, I have 4 buttons left from Bill to inlet some stocks , with his permission, a dying art , Chop

[johnk]

As I recall, Lionel Weekes started out making replacement wood for the guys shooting lever gun at SSAA Brisbane back in the early 1970s. He expanded first into manufacturing less expensive alternatives to the Fajen & similar US stocks, before entering the fullbore market with stocks that weren't all that better than the Omark 44D wood. He progressed until he was the supplier of the must have stock in Queensland & competed with southern specialist manufacturers until he finally shut down his business at some time around the turn of the Millennium when glass & metal stocks came into vogue.

I have one of his stocks for a Brno rimfire, but an early version that was not inletted, which I swear I will eventually fit.

[Chopper]

Cant waite to see the photos,/

[ned kelly]

G'day All,
I have Tom Canty's/Simon Whattley's (?) duplicator and patterns (and a few of my own) and am currently making stocks after doing Geoff Slees stock making course a few years back. I'm using Roger Vardy Walnut, customer supplied coloured laminate from the USA and my own ply blanks.
But yes it is a rare trade now.
Cheerio Ned aka Geoff

[Barry Davies]

Back around 1974 there was a fellow up Sydney way by name of Barry Liggins who used to sell a stock for the omark. Pretty much like the factory model but a little beefier. Not sure if he actually manufactured them or brought them in from overseas.
Then about the same period there was a fellow up Warrendyte ( Vic ) way that had a duplicating machine (two at a time )
He was a rifle manufacturer and produced the " Fieldman Rifle " in .22 cal.
Tom Canty was producing stocks on his own design and manufactured machine. I bought many of these stocks and used them when I was producing the Davies action. We still use the same stocks now.
Tom eventually sold the machinery to Simon Whateley who set up here in Castlemaine and went full time manufacturing stocks from " Roger Vardy " supplied Walnut.
Geoff ( Ned Kelly ) Wells now has the machinery.
John Mills ( one time captain of Castlemaine RC, now deceased ) made many stocks --all hand carved from a variety of timbers. John's timbers were many and varied -- Blackwood, Teak. South African Walnut, Hondurus Mahogany. Californian/ English walnut, Queensland Maple and numerous others.
Then of course there was Geoff Slee from Werribee ( vic ). Geoff used mainly Californian/English walnut. Excellent stocks and I still have one in use.
No doubt there were many others but these are the ones I had dealings with.

[wilson85]

I have a P14 range rifle in 7.62 that is in a laminated Blacklow stock. It is one of the most comfortable stocks I have ever laid down with. It's only downside is it misses an adjustable cheek piece, which I'm sure weren't common when the stock was made. Someone has put a lot of work into this old rifle as it a really well finished rig! Has like a dull silver finish to the action and a new Black Mountain barrel.

[johnk]

We shouldn't ignore Brisbane's Lyn (Doc, Wood Doctor) Morris, one of the top stockmakers of any generation & style that Australia's seen.

As one of any a number of examples I could quote, he once took some measurements of my right handed Robertson Millennium stock & duplicated it in the prettiest wood twice, left handed for Roger Dahl.

[Chopper]

I have just pulled out a Tasmanian Blacklow stock from the heap, its made from blackwood,its a full bore stock , for an M17, but the stock is left handed, nice bit a gear, and beaded nice, I will use it for an inletting patern for my latest bit of fun, Chop

[agro]

I've have a xxx walnut stock made by Geoff Slee for a Sako Finnwolf.
It came up beautifully when it was finished. Literally "smooth as a baby's ........"