Fitting the wood to the metal or what we call hitting up the stock isn't too
difficult if you've got the right tools understand the process, let me show you
how it's done. The original stock was apparently built
by grandpa and wasn't shaped or ended well enough to be duplicated. So I'm
using a stock from another parker shotgun from the same era. The only
downside is that it's a pistol grip stock so the grip will have to be
removed. The duplicated stock is called a semi inletted stock because 95% of the
wood has already been removed from the action area. It looks pretty good but a
lot of work and patience is required to complete the fitting. The first step is
to flatten the face of the stock. There's a tenon left from the duplicating
process and this surface needs to be perfectly flat to match up with the rear
of the receiver. After fixturing the stock in the vise I'll use a sharp wood
chisel and with light paring cuts remove most of the excess wood. Once I get close
I'll use a straightedge to check my progress. It's not quite level, so I
need to remove a little more wood. Once I'm further along a little inletting
black on the straightedge will really show the high spots.
After I removed as much as I can with the chisel, I'll switch to some 220 grit
sandpaper around a file.
Again checking with the straightedge, I'll sand away the high spots.
Until the surface is almost perfectly flat.
The tang is inletted next.
Some more in letting black and I'll tap the receiver with a rawhide mallet.
The inletting black will show the contact points which are removed with the chisel.
It takes several cycles to get the tang inletted fully into the stock
A sharp chisel is a must, I'm also careful not to pry against the
sides of the in letting which would damage the edges. The tang has a slight
draft which means the top is a little bit wider than the bottom. This draft
makes the in letting a little easier. The trigger plate is next and the fitting
process is the same. One of the most important surfaces on the trigger plate
is the recoil shoulder, it's angled and when properly fit helps hold the stock
tight against the receiver. Several cycles of applying inletting black and
scraping away the high spots are required to get an exact fit. Once the
plate is completely Inlet, all that remains is to drill the hole for the
tang screw. I fixtured the receiver and trigger plate in the drill press vise
using some brass shims to protect the finish. It's a simple matter to align the
drill bit with the holes in the tang and trigger plate. Once I'm satisfied with
the alignment I'll pull off the trigger plate and clamp the stock into the
receiver. Then I drill the hole slowly clearing the chips often.
The tang screw hole is now centered in the stock and the screw fits without binding.