I just purchased a Savage/Valmet Model 333 "Skeet" 12 guage O/U to make into a knockabout upland field gun. Haven't seen it yet, but the price was right.
From the not-too-good seller pix it looks like it needs a new pad and (at a minimum) a field forend and the checkering recut. I may be able to reshape the wierd "skeet" beavertail forend to field shape, but would rather replace it with a factory field shaped one and not destroy the original, just in case somebody wants it someday.
If I do the whittling, it will need new checkering, of course, something like Ahlman's simplest pattern and coarsest grade ("Minnesota Mitten Grade?").
Anybody know of a source of factory Savage/Valmet wood? The forend would, I think, have to be the 333 12 guage; the 330 wood won't work because of the ejectors on the 333.
If I really like this gun OR can't find replacement wood if it needs it, I may have a new stock/forend made. Any recommendations for somebody who could pantograph copy the stock and forend on my other 333 Field gun if I sent them the wood from that gun to copy? Somebody who will work with straight-grained field-grade wood? (These guns are users, not showpieces, IMO....)
Any info, opinions gratefully accepted!
