I own a couple of the Samson folders, I like the wood. Do you have a picture of your Choate?

I remember the Butler Creek versions from back in the day. They were “pretty” but they are strong and work very well. I had one on an SKS.

 

The Choate stock, while it is very similar to the BC stock in most ways, differs in two significant aspects.

1) The pistol grip lacks the sliding door of the BC, thus wasting internal storage space for spare parts, etc., and

2) The butt stock is not "solid" steel from end to end. The forward part of the butt stock is steel, but it is affixed to the longer all-plastic rearmost part by a roll pin; see this pic: Ruger Mini 14 Side Fold Stock – Choate Machine & Tool – Choate Store Home

These differences pale in comparison to the fact that the Choate is still available from the mfr, whereas the BC is not. It's a good side-folder, and "the only game in town" aside from the Samson.

ETA: I have seen some other side folders with what appears to be a plastic hinge mechanism. Hard Pass. The all-metal hinge mechanism on both the BC and Choate is nearly identical; Very stout, and self-adjusting for wear.

 

Thanks for reminding me about the SKS folder. Just ordered one since RI State legislature is sure to try to ban them in near future. While I anticipate (hope) that SCOTUS will render such a Ban moot in the near future, better to buy now than wait. I can see a number of ways how the single roll pin on the Choate folder can be improved/augmented, I'll need to have the thing in my hands for examination first.

 

I had a early 90's Choate folder. It was a decent stock, but did not fit the Mini 30 correctly. The trigger assembly would fall out after every shot. I never messed with the fitment.

It went down the road when I sold the rifle.

Bepe

 

Oooh, sorry, I hadn't gotten back to this thread ...thanks for the thoughts, all!

RIBob,
Yessir, that pic is what I have; thanks for posting that!
Fwiw, my Mini 14 and 10/22 both still wear the choate side folder from way back then. I was new to firearms then, and these just "looked cool." They always shot well, continue to feel absolutely rock-solid extended as well as folded, and so I never had a desire to put the factory wood back on (forever tucked away in the recesses of some closet). To this day, the Mini is hardly shot (to my shame) but the 10/22 is a testament to unflappable reliability and guaranteed range joy. But as per the thread title, I never see these stocks in the wild, and never even read/hear of them referenced. Just wondering is all ...shoot happy!

Edward