Why do some cheekpieces have this notch?

D

db4570

New member
I'm daydreaming about my ultimate bolt action rifle, and am admiring some beautiful wood stocks.

Many stocks have the standard raised Monte Carlo cheekpiece, but many of these have a notch cut into the cheekpiece, opposite the thumb clearance notch on the right side. What is the purpose of this? It seems to serve no purpose.

David
 
As we are animals, humans are attracted to symmetry. Both sides looking similar is more beautiful to most of us. So the answer to your question is that it serves no purpose, it just looks better.
 
symmetry

You'd really be confused by some of the stocks on my Mausers. They have a notch in the TOP of the front of the cheek piece.

Clearance for bolt retraction/removal.
 
The symmetry thing confuses me. A rifle is not inherently symmetrical. The bolt hangs to one side. The cheekpiece is only on one side.

I consider many guns, especially a classic bolt-action rifle, to be one of man's most beautiful machines. Like a classic watch, or motorcycle, or sports car, or vintage camera. What makes them beautiful is that they are designed to be functional first, and any aesthetic characteristics are treatments of the functional design elements.

So a fake thumb notch on the wrong side of the stock makes me a little crazy. I was hoping there was some functional reason for it that I was missing. IMO, "symmetry" does not trump good design.

FWIW

David
 
If that notch is in line with the bolt, it's there so the bolt won't touch the cheekpiece when it's all the way back. The top of the cheekpiece is above the bolt's top surface for better head support and aiming eye alignment with the sights; scope's especially. Here's a link to a picture showing the half-round notch on the right side of the cheekpiece top:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t106/pdog06_photos/DSCN2725.jpg

The notch is often long enough so the bolt can be removed without removing the stock first.

I once saw a target stock with that slot fitted with a spring-loaded sliding filler so when the bolt was pushed forward to load, it slid forward filling the slot making a better place to rest the cheek on.
 
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That groove and others are on the opposite side of the pistol grip thumb clearance. Especially on stocks whose cheek piece is offset to the side of the bore axis. An exception is when the cheek piece is centered on the stock comb and the same shape on both sides; the groove for bolt clearance is centered on top.

Then there's a lot of stocks made ambidextrous. A thumb groove is on both sides above and behind the pistol grip. Each side is a mirror image of the opposite one.
 
I understand this on a straight classic stock that may be used ambidextrously (although the bolt handle would still be on the right). But where there is a raised cheekpiece on the left side, there is no symmetry to be concerned with.

Here's a picture of what I'm talking about.

notch.jpg


I know it's a little thing, but I'm still curious about it.

David
 
It's called a thumb notch. You are right, on a rifle with a cheekpiece, there is no need for one. When I build rifles, I omit the one on the side of the cheekpiece. But many people do put it there because, apparently, it belongs there.
 
I agree that it's for looks, but I once had the occasion to shoot a deer left-handed with my right-handed stock and the groove helped.
 
Why was it put there? I doubt anyone knows for sure, but I believe it comes down to making sure that the wrist of the rifle stock feels correct. If that relief notch is not there the depression where the ring and middle fingers would naturally lie on a straight comb stock with the shooting elblow high in the "classic" offhand stance would make the stock "feel" clumsier.

More modern stock designs that are meant to be shot from a rest or bipod generally lack this feature. But you will still find it on target rifles (shuetzen game especially) designed to be shot from the standing unsupported position without sling.

That being said, the presence of the notch does not impair the function of the rifle at all and generally looks nice by adding to "lines and curves" of the firearm.

Anyways, try standing in the classic "high elbow" stance and see where your middle and ring fingers end up on a Monte Carlo style stock.

Jimro
 
Ahhhhhh, thank you. My guess would be primarily for if a right-handed shooter is taking a left-hand shot with the rifle (which DOES happen) - just another thumb groove. My guess is secondarily, yes, for symmetry/aesthetics.
 
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