What kind of rifle? You might be able to buy another stock so you don't hurt the original, especially if it has sentimental value.
I was in a local shop and a woman brought in a beautiful M98, non military, with a dual trigger and well figured Turkish walnut. She had it shortened. The guys doing the work tried to talk her out of it and getting a new stock but she refused to "ruin" the rifle by putting a non factory stock on it, even though it would have been cheaper.
I work with wood and it made me a bit sick to see 4 inches being knocked off of suck a nice specimen. Maybe some nice pistol grips were made from the end.