While shooting the Berger Southwest Long Range Nationals earlier this month in Phoenix, I was lucky enough to meet Doan Trevor, world-renowned gunsmith and woodworker. Over the last few days of the match, he and I talked about my dream of putting a Barnard action into an Anschutz 1913 stock. My 1913 is the most comfortable rifle I have ever owned or even ever fired, and since I got it 3 years ago, it is the standard that I judge all rifles by. In the last few months, I have sold off the Eliseo tube stocks from my 2 long range rifles and gone to more conventional stocks that are fairly close to the 1913, but not exact.
As it turned out, Mr. Trevor had recently modified a 1913 stock for a Barnard action for a customer. The fit and functionality of the Anschutz stocks is top-notch, but they aren't known for their beauty, they are generally just a slab of maple without much character. Doan told me that he could make a copy of one out of any wood I like with his stock duplicator, and this got the gears in my head turning. As luck(fate?) would have it, I got my name drawn at the awards dinner and ended up with a gift certificate for a substantial amount off of any rifle work done by, get this - Doan trevor. That pretty much sealed the deal for me. Sooo, for the last few weeks we have been going back and forth with pictures of pieces of wood that would work for this stock. Finally found one yesterday that is perfect; a beautifully-figured slab of American Walnut.
Now I just have to wait until my turn comes up for him to start carving it out. I've got a Barnard barreled action with trigger and sights from my original Palma rifle just waiting in the safe to drop in when it arrives. I plan on shooting a lot of Palma in the next 16 months, so having a spare rifle will not hurt. I kind of have a feeling that this will become my primary rifle though, and my current main palma rifle will become the backup...
Here's a pic of the slab of wood that will become my stock, it's the one on the right. I can post some pics of the finished product when it's all done if anyone is interested in seeing it, hopefully will be less than 2 months.
Erik