Welcome to Paul B's Custom Stocks

A new start.

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My name is Paul Bishop.  Recently I have found myself with a lot of time on my hands.  A few years back, I was making custom stocks in my spare time (mostly for Airguns) for enthusiasts that were not happy with what the factories offered.  There is great satisfaction about having a custom product made for yourself to your specifications.   My first stock was made somewhere around the turn of the century.  I started this endeavor because I wanted to shoot Field Target and it was not comfortable to do so with a factory sporter stock.   The Field Target stock from the factory cost more than I could afford so I tried to make one myself.  I must admit looking back that the first few stocks were blockish and not very good looking, but offered a good feel to them.   Over time I have refined my stock designs to what you see here.    As I got more and more busy and had less time on my hands to do the custom stocks, it became apparent that with work and family that I would no longer be able to continue so I took down my website and stopped taking orders.   I now have the time to continue the stock making  (although it may be temporary) and produce what in my opinion is not only a work of Art, but a better fitting stock.   Now there are some so called "rules" that I follow and certain ways that I do things that others may not agree on, but I find that it is the best way for me to produce the stocks.   As I get back into this, I will continue to update and add to this website.    I also will be posting photos of the "New Work" that will be comming out.   

Contact Information about Custom Work

The best way to get all the information that you want on what I do and how I do it is to email me.   I can be reached at either one of these email addresses.   Pelletpusher at comcast dot net or at Pelletpusherpaul at gmail dot com.

My thoughts.

The following is my opinion.  Agree, or disagree, everyone has there own opinion.


  • What is custom?  I feel that for something to be truly custom it should also be unique.  I am not knocking the guys that use patterns or a "duplicator".  Just want everyone to know that except for a standard cardboard cutout of the shape, each stock is inletted and shaped by hand.   All measuring is done using the most accurate equipment that I have available to me.   Therefore each stock that I produce is a "one of a kind" and although some of the lines may seem similar, everyone is uniquely different.   
  • Wood The woods that I use are usually supplied by the customer for the reason that I do not want to be held responsible for the wood not being "fancy" enough.   If a customer does not have a blank....or can not acquire a blank and I am asked to supply the blank for the customer,  the search starts and any suitable candidate blanks are shown to the customers via photos with discussion and agreement before purchasing.   I have several sights that I use to shop for blanks but sometimes it takes between a day and several weeks to find the right piece, depending on how exact the piece must be.   In some rare instances, once the blank is received, it is found not to be ready to work as it may have too much moisture in the wood.   This sometimes results in finding another piece or waiting until the wood is ready to work.    
  •  Methods   Most of the time I do not use the factory hardware.  Butt pads, Trigger guards and other hardware items are sometimes incorporated into the stock and sometimes they are manufactured.  It is possible to use the factory hardware but it tends to detract from the custom look.  I use basic tools for the most part.  My high tech tools consist of a Drill Press, Band saw, Jointer, Belt sander, Disc Sander, Orbital sander, Angle grinder  and Dremel tools.  Everything else is carved by hand using chisels, carving tools and sandpaper.
  • Experience  I have been working with wood all my life.   from my teen years I started working in a guitar factory and after 20+ years went into furniture and cabinet finishing and repair.   My very first stock was made when I was 16 years old.  Later in the early 80's I got into making stocks for paintball guns.  My first stocks for air guns, I made for myself because I wanted to shoot Field Target and could not afford the factory or custom versions.   The skills and designs have progressed from there.   
  • Work and Time  Custom work also means running into unique and sometimes complicated problems.  Due to the nature of the custom work and materials and methods used, an exact time frame can not be used for completion.   I ask that a customer be patient and understand that sometimes I do have other obligations.    To use a frame of reference, it takes approx.  30 to 60+ hours for me to make a stock depending on the style and options.   Inletting takes a day, sometimes more.   Past works have taken on the average of  20 plus hours just to sand the stock for finishing going from 150 grit to 220 to 400 to 600 and sometimes finer if the wood allows.   Please keep this in mind.   I will always work on stocks in the order that the deposits or guns are received.  
  • Satisfaction In making custom stocks, I am a woodworker.  But I am also a finisher, an artist, an interpretor, amateur machinist, and shooter.  I try to interpret the desires of the client as best I can and incorporate it into a design that looks good, but more important that will feel right and enhance the shooting ability of the client.  I can offer no guarantee that your imagined outcome and the end result of the finished product will be exactly the same, but I will work hard to get my work to meet your satisfaction.
  • Pricing The price for me to hand cut a stock to your specifications varies depending on the needs of the client. Pricing is as follows  (-) $400 plus cost of the wood for a standard plain sporter stock.  This is the bargain, bottom of the line, nothing fancy stock for those that do not want a "piece of art".   (-) $500 plus the cost of the wood for what I call a Hybrid stock (half way between sporter and target) that has a little more flair to it.  (-) $600 plus cost of the wood for a full blown Target or Thumbhole stock with ergonomic grip and butt if desired.    Standard but pads are included in the cost of the stock.  Additional charges for adjustable pads or hooks depending on the cost of said product.   Additional costs for options such as: Stippling, Brass accents, metal parts, adjustable parts, shadow or accent lines, grip caps, end caps, spacers, difficult wood, difficult actions, etc.  Keep in mind that if I am spending 50 hours on a stock and you pay $500 plus the cost of wood, I am making about $10 per hour.  I reserve the rights to make price changes without prior notice.  I will also consider taking Air guns and scopes and blanks in trade for stockwork, but there is an inspection and value assessment process on goods taken as payment.  I have the right to refuse any goods after inspection in which a cash payment would still be due.  Pricing is as follows and is subject to change from time to time
  • Price list     Standard is an oil finish with a standard pad.   Options are listed below.  I can do other options if requested and prices will be accessed at request time. 
  1. Finishing a DIY stock - $175  
  2. Repairing damaged stock - proportionate to the amount of damage.
  3. Stipple - $20 per panel  /  Checkering - $ 20 per square inch (22 lpi)  / One line outline - $5 per panel / 2 line outline - $10 per panel 
  4. Adjustable cheek - $50
  5. Adjustable Forearm - $50
  6. Stained or Sprayed finish (satin)- $50   High gloss buffed out finish - $150
  7. Machined metal Morgan Butt pad - $50 additional charge
  8. Exotic wood Grip cap or end cap - $20 each cap.  With spacer - $10 additional  (List of woods on request but the norm is Rosewood, Ebony, figured woods or burls)
  • Repair and Refinish I also will refinish stocks or repair stocks.   Occasionally, I will take guns and other items in trade towards stock making. 
  • Procedure  The procedure for ordering a custom stock is this.   First you email me at pelletpusher at comcast dot net or pelletpusherpaul at gmail dot com.  Phone number will be provided on request.    You describe the type of stock you would like, the type of wood you want used, the make and model of gun.  I return Email and let you know if it is something that I am willing to take on as I do not make stocks for any gun.  Some actions require special tools, methods and would take the cost much higher than listed. Guns that I do not offer stocks for at this time are: any of the bottle guns (Rapids, Super tens), Careers, Theoben Spring guns and AAs200.   Once you get my reply, you have to make the decision to proceed and get the blank.  If you want me to order the blank, that can be done (see Wood section above).  Then you would need to send me the gun and I would need to have the blank.  Next is the hardest part and that is the wait for me to complete the stock.  Once completed,  payment is due.  When payment is received then gun and stock will be shipped back to the owner.   You would be responsible for all shipping fees to and from me.  Here is a list of Guns that I make stocks for that you would not have to ship to me since I already have the actions.  TX200, R9, R11, HW95, HW98, HW50S, Benjamin Marauder, Crosman Challenger.    I can make stock for many other guns, but the guns would have to be shipped to me.