My own opinion is that few people understand that "custom"  relates only to the person who the customizing is/was for.  Beyond that is is just another used rifle or whatever.   Still, that's a nice looking rifle if it tweaks your fancy.  It may have been "custom" for the owner, but it isn't really custom for the buyer.   That's all just my antiquated way fo understanding the English language.  I'd never add a nickle just because sometbhing was "custom" unless I really liked it.

George

Whoever did the work on the wood definitely had some artistic ability. That being said, to me that rifle is just a barreled action.

However, if you like it, buy it. If you do buy it I certainly would expect it to sell at a discounted price. Chances are you won't recover your money if you ever sell it.

Just my opinion, and probably not worth 2 cents due to inflation.

Ruined a nice gun in my opinion

The real question here is would you want to be caught dead in public with that rifle?
It is a project rifle. If the bore is good buy it cheap and restock it. If the bore isn't. Buy it cheaper and make it into a more of a project gun.

That was the point of this post and as I agree with you all it is ugly, nice work but just over the top. It is cheap and is a package deal with a low serial number 6 1/2 with original factory checkering, and a Remington Hepburn in .45/70 that is in original condition. The amount I'm saving on the other 2 covers the cost of the project rifle, so its almost a buy 2 get 1 free deal.

The carving isn't bad, but it's also not high quality either. It detracts from a beautiful rifle by being too much for this nice Union Hill. 
As for value, I think the value of this Union Hill is cut almost in half by the carving. But the good news is if you keep your eyes open either here on ASSRA or on Ebay I see unaltered stock sets selling at prices much less than what it would cost to restock this rifle with new stocks. So if it's priced right I'd shoot it and keep looking for original donor stock set to eventually put it back to original looks.

That Zischange is my idea of a tastefully done Ballard. Just enough but not over the top.



JMH

Looks like it was done by a different person, or was an afterthought. Honestly once I have it in my hands I think I'm going to see if they can be sanded away.  They stocks are junk as far as I can see, perhaps they can be refinished if the engraving isn't to deep. I'm sure I will try and leave the texture by the pistol grip as I actually do like that. If it's possible to save them, the rifle will retain all of its born with components.

Judge 1879 wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2024 at 8:16am:


You'll only make the stocks worse by sanding the carving off! It's much too deep to save, and if you sand down until it's gone it will really look hideous.
Save your time and money for either donor stocks, or new semi inletted stock set. You might even be able to sell those stocks to someone in need of a pistol grip stock set as is. Wont get much, but better than tossing them.

Ugly stocks?  Bring them on.  There is no such thing as an ugly stock. Just ugly people

How does it shoot?

You'll never get the (often mythical) Big Bucks from a couple mad collectors going ape bidding on an auction site for that rifle, as they want only the most pristine originality in everything, and are willing to pay accordingly.

However, if you want a good example o a Union Hill for shooting I'd say you have one there.  The price is what you think it might be worth.  $1400-1500 or so would definitely spark my interest; I bought a rebarreled forged Ballard action (missing stocks and with some "issues") for about that and there were many other Ballards of higher cost with much less potential at the same show.

As the late great James Grant put it so well, "Anyone who insists upon only the utmost in originality and condition in the rifles he collects will never have a truly representative collection, although he will have a lot of fine pieces."

I don't think it looks that bad, although somebody who stipples an antique rifle instead of checkering it has an unusual lack of taste.  Tell your pals at the range that you have the best ugly gun in town.

Although this was was better executed the market for it is also significantly reduced

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rkba2nd wrote on Aug 24^th, 2024 at 2:52pm:

  On German rifles maybe, on American rifles, not, IMO.

  I've never seen any stock carving on an American rifle that increased it's value, in my opinion; but, I've lived a pretty sheltered life.

Jeff, I failed to mention that I was referring  to German, Austrian, et all rifles. My slip up.