Machine made stocks have been around quite a long time. Here in Britain they were in common usage, certainly at Military Arsenals in the 1850's, possibly a lot earlier.
I would suspect that all large American gun making companies would have had stock duplicating machines by the end of the Civil War.
Companies like Remington were producing upwards of 1,300 Rolling Block Rifles a day in the late 1860's and 70's, there's no way they could have done that if their stocks were all hand made. I suspect that the hand made stocks that were photographed in manufacture were for Special Orders only.
Most companies had a customising shop, where (as Sam Colt said) he could get another 10 Dollars on the price for every extra Dollar he spent on the finish.
Harry
Last edited by Harry Eales; 10/11/10 11:59 PM.
