I've gone through a number of changes over the years in what I've collected. STILL partial to blue/wood, But have had to throw in laminate and composite stocks also. But, I still keep to the classic style stocks in most cases, or variants thereof. While I like Boyd's stocks ? Some of the Colors/Shapes are beyond FUGLY to me and beyond consideration. The only reason I've went beyond classic styling is because of the adjustable L.O.P. and comb height features. I'm finding these features VERY practical for hunting. When I first started building ? HIGH GLOSS STOCKS....Not anymore. Hand rubbed linseed or nothing now. High gloss, while pretty, isn't practical for crap. In either wood or steel for hunting. Weather conditions make mine mostly safe queens. Almost all rifles are done in a Matte/Satin finishes.
Changes.....Most changes in firearms are for a couple reasons. Manufacturing cost/marketing/sales. I have ONE polymer framed pistol, and that will most likely be the only one I ever buy. The whole concept of light firearms goes against physical science and common sense. Recoil management/ caliber effectiveness become the issues. MANY of the new calibers ? pointless, and a drain of supply resources. They offer nothing new, just a slight variant of a caliber already in existence. I won't do the F.P.S. vs F.P.E. discussion again. Those that don't understand it ? Don't want to. And never will. But my understanding of this has been the source of my success hunting over decades. There is over kill and underkill.
Most of the building I do these days ? Older calibers that have been left out of production. 25 caliber for my part. 25-06.. 257 Roberts..7x57...6.5x55 Swedish... 250 Sav....284 Win....and 280 Rem. Most in Ackley Improved versions. Most of this is coming to an end.
Supply chain = SUCKS ! Wait times = REALLY SUCKS. This runs from reloading, parts, just about everything, and runs in cycles from bad to worse.
At this point building will be cut back. And kept to certain area's. Actions for building rifles are either junk, Or too expensive for a build.
I'll keep at it doing restoration on firearms that are still worth it. They can be found. And what was once considered a utilitarian cheap firearm ? Is by todays standard high quality. Many of these are coming out of closets, that were fired little if at all. I'm starting to find a healthy respect for the Savage/Stevens line of older firearms.
The reason people still look for older model cars ? You can work on it. The electric dealer maintained only crap now are all throw away cars. Look for this to happen in firearms. It's already here. Firearm screws up ? Send it back. They throw it in a pile with the other junk ones, send you a new one......
