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 March 15 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 March 15 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 March 15 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 March 16 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 March 16 by PeltMe

[BBoru]

So, jumping in from nowhere, I'm trying to fill a gap by molding an M1 cheek piece to my M14 with iron sights because I just don't get a 'good fit'.

It almost feels like it's there, but I don't have the skills to make something and I don't think what I'm doing is going to end up being what I want.

In searching randomly online I found this tread and figured I'd take a shot and see if someone with skills and made this work:

Simple right-handed, nice leather (I love the vintage look and feel of my M14) doesn't require I drill the stock (preferably) 'gap piece': No scope, just fit.  

So I was trying to find a connect to chuck123wapati  to if he had advanced the pattern I think he was playing with into something I could buy. 

Anyhow let me see if tossing this post out into the universe gets me anywhere - zoop, off it goes. 

 

[Dwight]

39 minutes ago, BBoru said:

So, jumping in from nowhere, I'm trying to fill a gap by molding an M1 cheek piece to my M14 with iron sights because I just don't get a 'good fit'.

It almost feels like it's there, but I don't have the skills to make something and I don't think what I'm doing is going to end up being what I want.

In searching randomly online I found this tread and figured I'd take a shot and see if someone with skills and made this work:

Simple right-handed, nice leather (I love the vintage look and feel of my M14) doesn't require I drill the stock (preferably) 'gap piece': No scope, just fit.  

So I was trying to find a connect to chuck123wapati  to if he had advanced the pattern I think he was playing with into something I could buy. 

Anyhow let me see if tossing this post out into the universe gets me anywhere - zoop, off it goes. 

 

Maybe before asking a question . . . you might read what was written previously.  Might answer your question before you ask it.

May God bless,

Dwight

[BBoru]

Thanks Dwight, I did read it through and did again now. You know what they say, sometimes it takes seven times or seven different ways.

And sometimes it just takes a while for a circuit to light up from all the corrosion on the wiring.  

Anyhow, I appreciate the content here and if I don't cut both my thumbs off and make a monstrosity after ruining yards of good leather I'll post back with what I did. 

And thanks again chuck123wapati for the sidebar tips, I'm slow but I eventually there  

[PeltMe]

In response to the suggestions and a few hours fettling, I think I have something... It's a bit rough around the edges in places, but it's my first one and I'm quite pleased with it. 

The resolene has come off in two places, but has made it look quite tacky IMO. I've looked at restoring leather to try remove the finish and start again to which I found people mentioning IPS and deglazer. I got both just to be sure. I'll always use the 
IPS on electronics and the like. 

 

I had a bit of a struggle getting the cheek piece and tension right. It wasn't until I'd I thought I'd overestimated when I realised that I'd REALLY underestimated! Anyhow, we got there in the end. As you can see in the photo's, I've used a bit of everyone's ideas, so thank you all very much for your time and knowledge. 

[Northmount]

On 3/23/2025 at 12:12 PM, BBoru said:

And thanks again chuck123wapati for the sidebar tips, I'm slow but I eventually there

If you want to get a user's attention, you need to either quote at least a portion of their post or tag them.  Since I quoted part of your post, you will get a notification that I have done that, depending on your profile settings regarding notifications.

A second way of notifying a person, is to tag them.  You to that by typing the @ symbol followed by the username and picking it from the popup box.  Apologies to @chuck123wapati for using his ID in this example.  Now he will get a notification since I tagged him.

[PeltMe]

 

32 minutes ago, Northmount said:

If you want to get a user's attention, you need to either quote at least a portion of their post or tag them.  Since I quoted part of your post, you will get a notification that I have done that, depending on your profile settings regarding notifications.

A second way of notifying a person, is to tag them.  You to that by typing the @ symbol followed by the username and picking it from the popup box.  Apologies to @chuck123wapati for using his ID in this example.  Now he will get a notification since I tagged him.

Sorry, I was addressing the entire thread

[chuck123wapati]

That's a fine pattern!! It looks great. Shooting it will tell the tale, lol. Sometimes, they slide up due to recoil. The stitching is great looking, too. If you can clean up that edge on the riser, it would be perfect, IMO.

[PeltMe]

5 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

That's a fine pattern!! It looks great. Shooting it will tell the tale, lol. Sometimes, they slide up due to recoil. The stitching is great looking, too. If you can clean up that edge on the riser, it would be perfect, IMO.

Thank you. I have cleaned those edges up and pleased to say it does look nice. I can't believe I mad it to be honest! Now to try it for height, but to be honest I did try it before hand and it sat perfect. The layers are compressed and only amount to about 14mm on the rifle so shouldn't be too over the top. Oh, by the way, I meant IPA, but somehow managed to get it wrong twice 😄 

 

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