The first appearance of the term stock dates to 1571 and derives from the Germanic word Stock, which meant tree trunk, due to the wooden nature of the gunstock. The actual gunstock shape appeared with the introduction of the arquebus, a sort of long gun that spread through Europe in the fifteenth century. Since that time, gunstocks have evolved a lot, becoming those prestigious objects so beloved today. In this article, we want to discuss what makes a gunstock modern, talking about beauty, heritage, and some technical aspects.
