doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Palm swell on a classic rifle?

I’ve mentioned before that I’m building a rifle on a Ruger 77 Mk II action (6mm Rem), and it will have a classic style stock, similar to a Griffin & Howe sporter, etc. In some ways I’m actually patterning it similar to the Minar rifle in the link below. At this time I’m playing around with the pattern stock, adding and subtracting material (Bondo) until it looks and feels right. I’ve noticed that I like the way a little palm swell feels, it fills my hand and aids consistent placement of my trigger finger. However, I’m not sure how palm swell will look on a classic rifle. It makes the pistol grip a little asymmetrical, and I expect it would make the checkering look different. Do classic rifles very often have palm swell? I appreciate any experience, thoughts, and opinions on this.

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Number=199020


Larry

I know Wundhammer was famous for his swell, he also used a different checkering style. I hope someone here has a Wundhammer and can contribute more.

My Wundhammer doesn't have a palm swell.
Dan

I've not seen a Wundhammer with the swell. However Harvey Rodgers incorporated the feature on many of his stocks. It is just a narrow ridge running along the side of the grip. Hardly noticeable until you grip the stock. It lays just perfectly in the crease of your palm.




Bottom photo the second rifle from the top, and the bottom rifle has the swell, others do not. Kind of off topic, but for those seeking a Rodgers rifle, watch for vintage smallbore target rifles. His boss at Hart Arms, Arthur Hart, was an avid smallbore shooter, and as such catered to the target shooting community. Lots of Winchester 52's out there wearing Rodgers stocks.

The swell does add to the difficulty when checkering the stock.

John

I really appreciate everyone's feedback here. John, your comments and photos are super helpful.

Thank you!

Larry

Some palm swells are almost invisible. I shot a Claus Hiptmayer stocked shotgun for years without noticing the palm swell on the left side.

I own a classic bolt action rifle built on a Pattern 17 Enfield action. Other than the bolt release there's nothing left original to know what action it began life as. It is nicely stocked by an unknown stock maker, and has a slight right hand palm swell. I have owned the rifle for 40 plus years, and it was my primary deer and elk rifle for many decades. I always liked the feel of the pistol grip with the small palm swell while shooting it.

I bought a stock on eBay , it has a palm swell, but I think I appreciate the cast off and toe cast out, just as much if not more than the palm swell. LRF’s “new project starting” thread has a good picture of this. I hope you are considering these other details as well.

Yes, I’ve built about 1/4 inch of cast off and 1/4 inch of toe out into the stock. Those things, along with the palm swell, have it feeling pretty comfortable. However, when I bring it up to my eye naturally the front and rear sight are slightly out of alignment, and I have to press my cheek harder into the comb to get the right alignment. So I plan to experiment with a little more cast off to see if that makes it all line up naturally. I’m glad that with the pattern stock, Bondo, and files I can try different arrangements until I get it right. The input from others on this forum has been incredibly helpful.

Larry