Recommendations for Minor Stock Repairs - Cheshire

[Touchstone]

Gents,

I managed to ding my stock over the weekend.  It's a very small indentation that hasn't broken the fibres but is disproportionately annoying as you will understand.  Who would you recommend to raise it out in the Cheshire area?

Thanks,

Tim

[222mark]

Iron and a wet tea towel works for me, amazing what it will fetch out.  What finish is the stock?

[Mr grumpy]

Branthwaites raised a few dents from a stock for me.one i didn't think was possible to do. It was like new afterwards.

[Touchstone]

The shotgun in question is a 425 with a standard factory finish.

I'll bear Branthwaites in mind as I'll be working in Handforth over the next few days and so wouldn't be too far away.  I was considering dropping in to Hopkins in Sandbach myself.

Kind regards,

Tim

Edited July 26, 2021 by Touchstone

[London Best]

I have no knowledge of the two names mentioned, but do NOT take it to a gun dealer unless he has/is a proper practical man on the premises.

Most of them are just that.......dealers.

[fizzbangwhallop]

Wisemans in Cannock? True old school gunmakers. 

[Mr grumpy]

Hopkins are very good,but john(one of the two brothers) has retired,so not sure how much is done in house now.

Branthwaites are also proper gunsmiths,who do the work in house.

I'd steer well clear of another well known "gun room" in stockport.

[Touchstone]

Thanks Gents,

I haven't been to Hopkins for years but it's the nearest to me being about 20 minutes away.  Looking at the opening hours, I get the impression that he's semi-retired.

Tim

[WalkedUp]

Just iron it out, so easy to do and you will get plenty more so worth learning. I used to iron out dents when I was a lad and I was still precious, but 20 years on I would just live with it. For a modern mass-manufactured gun these marks are the tales of a tool that is well used.

[Yellow Bear]

11 hours ago, Mr grumpy said:

Branthwaites are also proper gunsmiths,who do the work in house.

I'd steer well clear of another well known "gun room" in stockport.

I would second these comments - used Branthwaites for many years and was never let down.   A can be a bit abrupt at times, but then so can many in this field😉

[reindeer]

A small ding without broken fibres in a wooden stock can often be raised by just leaving a wet piece of cotton wool on it overnight. The fresher the ding, the better the results. 

[PeterHenry]

On 26/07/2021 at 20:35, Mr grumpy said:

Hopkins are very good,but john(one of the two brothers) has retired,so not sure how much is done in house now.

Branthwaites are also proper gunsmiths,who do the work in house.

I'd steer well clear of another well known "gun room" in stockport.

Its Peter that retired - John still runs the shop and does the work on the guns. 

17 hours ago, Touchstone said:

Thanks Gents,

I haven't been to Hopkins for years but it's the nearest to me being about 20 minutes away.  Looking at the opening hours, I get the impression that he's semi-retired.

Tim

They were always shut Mondays and Tuesdays, even before Peter retired - certainly for the 15 or so years I've been going.

I couldn't recommend them enough - they (John) do all the work on my guns and I'm fusy as hell. They have had three generations of my familys custom now - I cant given them any higher praise than that.

[Touchstone]

Thanks Peter,

I'm intending on dropping in on Hopkins later today.  Branthwaites also look good but are second on my list for no particular reason other than they aren't as local to me.

Thanks all,

Tim

[Mr grumpy]

19 hours ago, PeterHenry said:

Its Peter that retired - John still runs the shop and does the work on the guns. 

They were always shut Mondays and Tuesdays, even before Peter retired - certainly for the 15 or so years I've been going.

I couldn't recommend them enough - they (John) do all the work on my guns and I'm fusy as hell. They have had three generations of my familys custom now - I cant given them any higher praise than that.

Thanks for that. They did the barells on my 20 bore a few years ago.true gents and first class work

[Touchstone]

By way of an update, I have just collected my shotgun from Hopkins and can say that I am very pleased with the result.  The ding has been lifted out such that it's impossible to tell where it was.  All is like new!

Tim