LeFusil-
I said $5000+ to restock it (maybe a little more depending on the wood).
That's what it costs to have it done right.
That doesn't include the forend, either.
Converting it to a straight grip means building a new triggerguard (plus engraving & blacking).
That wouldn't be cheap, either.
And if I did it, I would keep the other stock and the metalwork. While the value of the gun wouldn't fall, I would probably have more into it that it would be worth.
OWD
I hear you loud and clear. I've had a few shotguns that have been restocked, all the jobs were done "right", I've never come close to paying 5k. The most I've ever paid was 2K and that was last years project gun. I use "established" stockers as well, guys who are known in the trade, not run of the mill wood jockeys. Doug Mann has quoted me prices for complete restocking jobs nowhere near 5k, I think he does it "right", as does Dennis Earl Smith, again, using talented guys like that, and still no where near 5k. I'm sure if a guy wanted to, and added complicated checkering patterns, extremely high grade wood (the $300 blanks I buy from Cecil would cost you around 1k if you bought it from Galazan, etc), complicated add ons like skeleton butt plates, grip caps, etc... I really dont see the point in making the gun a straight gripped gun either, I rather like the semi-pistol grip shape the older Scotts had, I find it to be very elegant and erognomic, pleasing to both the hand and eye.
I know some stock makers do charge a premium (aka overpriced), not saying any names, but they charge what they charge because they were articled at Holland and Holland, etc., and you're paying for the warm fuzzies and to say, "my gun was stocked by a english guy". Or, your using guys that cater to a certain clientel who can afford to pay whatever the stockmaker wants to charge.
