Carving The Hanson Gunstock

My story started in 1991 when I started my own craft business. Doing this for several years became boring. My brother Len who also carves, prompted me to do the same. Well, I didn't want to carve the same thing every one else was, so I bought my first carving power tool and thus sparked my passion for carving. I started doing relief carving and then went to three dimension figures. This went very well for me. As time went on I started to carve every gunstock I owned. So I quit doing the everyday craft business and targeted the sportsman's shows. After reading a story in the Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine about the New World record white tail shot by Milo Hanson, I wondered if anyone had approached him about carving the deer on the gunstock he shot the deer with. On August 3, 1995 at 2:14pm, I called the Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine and talked to account executive Jackie Daniel's Asking her if it would be a good idea to contact Milo and inquire about doing the carving of his gun stock with the record buck he shot on it. Mrs. Daniel's stated that it sounded like a good idea and she would do some checking and get back to me. True to her word, she called me back giving me Milo's phone number! On August 9'th I talked to Mr. Hanson telling him my idea about the gun stock Milo agreed that this would be a good idea. I sent Milo my portfolio containing a sample of the Hanson Buck on a gunstock along with other sample gunstocks. On October 6'th, Milo Shipped the gun stock to me. After being on cloud nine for days thinking about the odds of this happening to me knowing this is like the Super Bowl of gunstocks carvings. I used a photo taken by Lan McMurchy, I began creating the masterpiece. Before I knew it, it was early December, and the gunstock was finished, I packed the prize gunstock up and on its way back to Milo. Several days later Milo called me and said he was very proud of the work I had done and was showing it off to his friends and family. I wanted to personally present this gun stock to Milo for a photo op and found out he was going to be doing a show in Suffern New York at the world Fishing & Out Door Exposition from in February of 1996. Arrangements were made to meet him but to our surprise Milo was stopped at the Canadian Border and was asked what the purpose of his visit was, after telling the officials what he was doing and why he was going across the border and that he had his riffle he shot the deer with, They got a little bothered. Milo explained that the gun was welded shut and was unable to discharge and was also mounted in the showcase the officials stated he could not take the weapon with him and someone had to return it to his home. This put a damper on my whole day, but we figured out another way and got around it as I presented an enlarged photo I had taken of the gunstock to Milo instead. The World Record could not have gone to a nicer sportsman than Milo Hanson.

I'm very honored that I was the one having had the chance to be a part of Milo's story!

Custom Gun Stock Carving Courtesy of Dan Hockensmith of York Pa

Dan uses a high speed engraving tool to creat unforgettable images in your gun stock.One of his finest efforts involved the recreation of Milo Hanson 's world record whitetail in the stock of the .308 Winchester riffle used to take this massive buck down. The gun has been retired and will travel with the mount to various expositions.








Below are some photos of gunstocks that Dan has etched
along with a small description of what each gunstock entails.









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Veronica Kiger (Web Designer)