Has anyone any experience crafting custom cheek rest/ comb risers?

[PeltMe]

Greetings from the UK.

This is officially my first post, so, hi and here we go.

I'm essentially looking for the best way to work leather around my rifle and build a small cheek rest/comb into it, as mine is rather low. 
I've made axe covers and sheathes, but never something that covers so many contours.
There's bits on MeTube but nothing for air rifles apart from bits of bent 68mm downpipe with neoprene and two ugly bolts on the side.
I want to make something that sits elegantly around the gun and doesn't make me look like a whopper. Anyone?

[chuck123wapati]

I used references from existing ones online in my case it was for an M1 Garand. I also got the best info from Dwight here on the forum. 

oh mine is for right or left hand use lol I shoot lefty.

[toxo]

25 minutes ago, PeltMe said:

Greetings from the UK.

This is officially my first post, so, hi and here we go.

I'm essentially looking for the best way to work leather around my rifle and build a small cheek rest/comb into it, as mine is rather low. 
I've made axe covers and sheathes, but never something that covers so many contours.
There's bits on MeTube but nothing for air rifles apart from bits of bent 68mm downpipe with neoprene and two ugly bolts on the side.
I want to make something that sits elegantly around the gun and doesn't make me look like a whopper. Anyone?

Welcome to the forum from a neighbour.

There are many ways to do this. Assuming you don't want to damage the stock I think the safest way is to glue up several layers of leather (or anything else) and trying and shaping as you go. when you're happy with the result, wrap the whole thing with leather and stitch along the bottom.

[PeltMe]

Nice work. Nice authentic look to the rifle too! I may be asking too much here, but are there any video playlists that anyone's put together for different designs and techniques that includes all leather types and basic stitching? 

I've got lots of soft leather and 3xA4 pieces of 3mm dyes tan. I've definitely got some ideas of what I'm aiming for, but haven't gone into saddle stamps and swivel knives just yet. 

This is an example of what I'm looking for, but there aren't many contours to deal with in the example. If at all any!

 

I suppose I don't want to chop in to expensive leather without knowing it will fit properly and look nice as well. I'm a pain in the ass when it comes to making things, so want to be as precise as possible.

 

Thanks again for you showing your work. Much appreciated.

Edited Saturday at 05:53 PM by PeltMe

[PeltMe]

7 minutes ago, toxo said:

Welcome to the forum from a neighbour.

There are many ways to do this. Assuming you don't want to damage the stock I think the safest way is to glue up several layers of leather (or anything else) and trying and shaping as you go. when you're happy with the result, wrap the whole thing with leather and stitch along the bottom.

Not a bad way of doing it, thanks. I've got some faux leather that I've been chopping up to get the shape. I think I've got the shape, just need a bit more confidence I guess.

Thanks again

Edited Saturday at 05:53 PM by PeltMe

[toxo]

Although this doesn't include a comb riser it might give you some inspiration. I did the shotgun for a friend because he didn't want to drill the stock. The last pic is mine and just shows an alternative elasticated wrap instead of leather if you can find one.

 

Edited Saturday at 09:58 PM by toxo

[Dwight]

As a matter of fact . . . I make them.  I do standard ones that usually run around 9/16 of an inch high . . . to bigger ones . . . offset ones for an offset scope . . . 

As a rule . . . I need to know the height the person needs . . . which is a process they have to go thru.

Looking at the pictures . . . the one at the bottom is the starter.  Cut a piece of scrap leather . . . about 15 cm square . . . dampen it slightly . . . drape it over the stock of the rifle behind the grip . . . so that when it is laced . . . the front lace will but up against the grip.  Allow it to thoroughly dry . . . you might want to place a plastic bag under it so no water marks get on the stock.

Once it is dry . . .  look at the bottom picture . . . and you'll see that I've taken masking tape and taped it down tightly to the stock . . . but only in about 5 mm of the edge all the way around.  Tape it so the flesh side is up.  Next . . . take other pieces about the same size . . . but not over 7 oz thick . . . dampen them . . . pull them down over the first piece in a stack . . . tape them down tight . . . after you have made the height of cheek piece you want . . . minus the thickness of the one last piece which will go over and all the way down to the bottom of the stock where it will be laced.

Allow that to dry . . . at least 24 hours . . . carefully take the pieces off . . . keeping track of which one was which . . . and one at a time . . . using contact cement . . . glue them all together in a nice uniform stack.

You will have to take the "stack" to a sander of some sort . . . mine is a 30 cm round one that will take your finger off if you are not careful.  Sand the sides and the ends smooth so the profile of it comes elegantly up from the stock . . . to a similar profile at the top . . .  that you would find on the top of the stock of the rifle.

Very carefully cut your over piece . . . cement it to the "stack" . . . make lacing holes in it . . . and lace it onto the gun.  I generally will dye the outside and the ends . . . edges . . . and use wax on the inside so it does not mess up the finish of the stock.  

The cross side picture with the 7 on it is my rifle . . . the 7 is the designation of my destroyer squadron from Vietnam and San Diego . . . DesRon 7.  The reason for it being so tall is my very small Native American heritage . . . that gave me cheek bones that are very high.  I rest my cheek bone on that riser . . . and my right eye picks up the cross hairs perfectly.

Two of the pictures are of a standard 9/16 riser . . . left side view and rear view.  Another one is that of an offset piece for an M1 Garand that uses an offset scope mount.

Have fun . . . may God bless,

Dwight

Edited yesterday at 02:12 AM by Dwight

[PeltMe]

15 hours ago, toxo said:

Although this doesn't include a comb riser it might give you some inspiration. I did the shotgun for a friend because he didn't want to drill the stock. The last pic is mine and just shows an alternative elasticated wrap instead of leather if you can find one.

 

 

Nice work. Looks like you've been doing it for years. I'm really into the saddle patterns and 3D pop it gives, if you've done anything of the sort?

I'm going away this weekend so hoping to get some time in the evenings to mock something up. When I've decided on a shape/design I'll post my results, but until then the posts of other peoples work is great.

Edited 22 hours ago by PeltMe