Cost of rifle stock work

[woodnut]

Hey yall, I just stopped in at a local gunsmith's shop and was shocked at what he wanted to finish shaping, sanding to 200 grit and a little inletting (that was left to be done) on a rifle stock. The stock was mostly inletted, the shaping only needed finesse shaping. What do you think this would cost where you live? I'll tell you latter what he wants.

 

[std7mag]

I was checking into a short range Benchrest stock for a Savage Axis build i was doing.
Guy that builds good stocks about 50 miles from me said, "yeah, bring it by & we'll talk".

I was going to be into it for about $900 by the time it was all said and done.

 

[woodnut]

Thanks, std7mag. What this guy wants is $500. Hard to believe it takes so much time. If you figger $50 an hour, he's saying 10 hours. Hum, I guess that ain't so far off, is it.

 

[Phil Rizzo]

He's charging for the time it takes to do the work, and do it correctly.
And I bet his rate is closer to 150 than 50.

 

[shortgrass]

$50/hr won't keep the lights on in shop today!

 

[woodnut]

Dang! Am I behind the times! So a good deal, huh.

 

[V35BTC]

$50/hr won't keep the lights on in shop today!

 

[Mason Blackmon]

$50/hr is cheap cheap cheap for ANY professional work! Try to hire a mechanic, plumper, or tattoo artist for that, you'll get laughed out of the building. I do hand engraving along with welding and I won't touch anything for less than $100/hr.
Yes @woodnut you are very behind the times if you think what you were quoted is expensive

 

[shortgrass]

$50/hr is cheap cheap cheap for ANY professional work! Try to hire a mechanic, plumper, or tattoo artist for that, you'll get laughed out of the building. I do hand engraving along with welding and I won't touch anything for less than $100/hr.
Yes @woodnut you are very behind the times if you think what you were quoted is expensive

But, but, but,,, all he's gotta' do is

 

[jpfrog]

But, but, but,,, all he's gotta' do is

All he's gotta do is not screw up what is probably already an expensive piece of wood that has been semi-inletted. And we all know the last 20% of work takes 80% of the overall time…it's the little details that chew away at the clock, and make the most costly mistakes.

OP, I would say $500 is a great price, especially if the smith is good at it. Not all are- many will send wood work out to be done by specialists.

 

[victor3ranger]

I am amazed at the work some of these guys do, I would never be able to do something like that

 

[Boe]

I've been a full time Riflesmith for 30 years. If you find a guy that's fitting Rifle stocks for 50.00 per hour. You just bought yourself a Monkey with a Hatchet to work on your stock.

 

[Ckgworks]

This is one of the reasons wood stocks are out of style I believe......quality work takes time, and time is money. I dabble in stock work, make a few from blanks without a duplicator, hand checker them with non power checkering tools, and hand rubbed oil finish of many coats. A few guys have asked me to give them a price to make them one but I've never added up the hours into one, I just know even at wage rates, not shop rates no one would be interested!

 

[Pudgy]

just had one custom built, cost 1650 for the wood, build, cut and install RAD, inlet, bedding and finishing. I supplied the rad and trigger guard. Picture 1 and 2

Picture 3 is the one I'm moving on from that he also built