Got both types and use 'em all. If I ever bought a "true" collector item, I might re-think. For the most part I buy 'em to use. They're like me "work, old, & have a few scars"

Trucks are mostly the same. I buy a truck with 4 wheel drive and it's gonna get used.

So awesome! We tell those guys, "we're gonna make that rig bleed".

Never owned a synthetic stock rifle. Most of the ones I have were passed down to me by my father and grandfathers. Some have "fancier" wood than others, but all are nice rifles. They are functional and have a few scratches on them, but I never worry about it when I am taking them in the field because they have more sentimental value to me than what I could get for them if I sold them.

DC, when and where did you get your Parker-Hale? My Dad got a P-H .30-06 back in '72 or '73 and I don't think I've ever run across another one other than in pictures. Great gun and the wood is nice but it has a few scratches.

I got a Citori Lightning with real nice wood 25 years ago and never once hesitated about taking it out. It's been through a lot and still looks pretty good.

The Diana Grade my Dad got as a retirement present is another story.

I got it in trade for some carving and a new finish I did on another gun the guy had, I paid a few dollars along with my time in the carving. Best I can remember he told me he had also bought it in the 1970's at some place in San Angelo. Originally I had no intention of keeping it, but after I shot it, it became a regular shooter.

I don't have anything on that level of nice, nor would I because I wouldn't use it in fear of messing it up.

I have two wood stocked glossy guns, they have a great wood grain and I think they are pretty rifles. I take them hunting and have sat in the rain with them, but they always get a good wipe down when done and I take care no to mar the wood or finish.

I enjoy having the synthetic stocks and mat finish barrels to hunt with most of the time.

I recently acquired an Al Biesen custom rifle in (what else?) .270 Win. Its wood is beautiful Turkish walnut done up beautifully in the Biesen signature Fluer de Lis style. Pre-64 action re-worked and jeweled, the whole 9 yards...

It is basically the twin to O'Connor's famed "No. 2" rifle Biesen made for him in the late '50s that Jack sheep hunted with until his last hunt in 1973.

If I ever draw a Rocky tag (especially in WY where O'Connor hunted) that rifle will be with me. Provided it shoots well enough, of course.

NP,

sounds beautiful, please share some photos.

This rifle has been with me on many hunting trips including Africa and Argentina. It gets a lot of use and has held up well. I have shot well over 100 Africa plains game with it and probably close to 100 white tail deer. Quite a few red stag and wild boars also. I love pretty wood.

Now that is a rifle there Sir!

You want to trade it for an AR?

Top shelf wood wears like iron, and properly taken care of lasts multiple life times. Cheap wood shows the miles.

Buzzsaw I've almost PMed you about 5 times about that rifle. Please sell it and put me out of my misery.

Very nice NP.

Very nice.

Thanks Jeff. I held Jack's "#2" rifle at the DSC show 3 years ago and was taken aback by its balance and feel. The thin wrist of Biesen's stocks also fit my small hands like a glove. Been on the lookout for one ever since - this was about the fourth or fifth one I looked at, and I knew it was the one for me as soon as I saw it. One-owner rifle sold by the family of a recently deceased Seattle man (Biesen was in Seattle) who had it built in the early 60s. Family related he took several mule deer with it, but you certainly can see it wasn't abused. Eyesofahunter is right that quality wood wears like iron.

Forgive the goofy pic, but you can see Jack's rifle still looks pretty dang good even after several hunts in the Yukon and BC over a 15 year period. (That ram was actually taken by his wife Eleanor and was the #10 Dall in the books when taken.)

Very nice rifle NP, congrats on finding that gem. Go ahead and give Buzz a call.

That rifle is absolutely beautiful!

Why not hunt with fine wood stock rifle? I would, if planning on surfing down a mountain or chance of rough country I would consider that but sure would hunt anyway. People freakout over idea of hunting with $7500 gun well what about driving your $50K plus truck at 75 mph within feet of total stranger or leaving it in parking lot while inside shopping or outside in the snow and rain? Hunting you do have some control over the way something is treated verses driving down road! I have watched my father take a Grade 5 Model 21 16 gauge with White engraving out dove hunting! Those are not cheap but like he said it ain't gonna kill a bird sitting in the house! I do have guns I would use a boat paddle or club just some I rather not do that with.

Woody all the way. Love those Sako's. My first self purchased rifle is a 35 year old Sako Finbear Deluxe 30.06 with Leupold Vari X 3x9. Beaustiful & Love it. It does have a good crease on the right side below the bolt due to legally hunting with dogs in Arkansas and spinning an old Honda Big Red 3 wheeler around in the logging road causing 3 wheeler to tip over with me but the gun stock kept that unit from landing on me. Still managed to slide out from under, throw up rifle and put the buck down. Wish I had picks of the Big Red and deer but that was before cell phone pics and we didn't carry cameras. I've often thought of repairing the stock, but each time my memory of the event cause me to keep as is. This is still my go to gun.

I've also got 3 multi generation SXS hammer shotguns passed down. The wood is clearly beaten up and all have carvings, knotches, initals, dates etc for ownership/kill identifications.