Stock Work
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
Ian
Notorious member
It's basically like Hickory. Heavy, hard, strong, long-grained, large-pored in some areas, and prone to warping and splitting if not selected and dried properly. Also very prone to hidden beetles that survive kiln-drying and come out of nowhere months after the work is done. That said, I made several pistol stocks for friends and a buttstock for a pellet gun out of it and had no issues. The main drawback is weight and it is difficult to checker because the grain is so tough. Some of the wood I have has beautiful quilting/fiddleback that rivals the finest maple, while a lot of the rest is very plain, creamy wood. It takes stain exceptionally well and if you don't stain (you likely won't need or want to), slurry-sand your boiled linseed oil several times the grain fills very nicely. Bottom line is I wouldn't be afraid to use it again if I had a nice piece to work with, but keep in mind I'm used to working with gnarly, wild black cherrywood and that stuff is a nightmare compared to walnut.
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RBHarter
West Central AR
Well I'll have to see what it looks like in a few weeks . One of the logs has been down about 9-10 months the other only since June . I say logs ......... About 30 ft x 3 at the base and that's not even the stump that still has another limb about like that standing . I have to give 1 9'×24" slab back for them and the rest of the tree if it doesn't make this winter .
There's this M12 Win that slaps like that right cross I took in HS .
There's this M12 Win that slaps like that right cross I took in HS .
Ian
Notorious member
One of my Model 12s is just like that, stooopid steep comb with a lot of drop that beats me senseless in short order. The other two, not so bad but not ideal. Look for wood as close to the ground as you can and seal the butt end now with paraffin or tar. If you can find a stressed part like from the leaning side it might have some tigerstriping like this:
Just a little background.....
"Early" laminated material,this being what gunstocks and trad bow parts consisted of; was brought to the forefront by a company up in NY,if memory serves? Late 1980's? Can't remember the co's name...... further CRS,that place burned to the ground. ANYWAY,back then as a burgeoning market/product,like so many things was held to a much higher std than what's being produced today. Originally,it was all,"hard maple" with honest to goodness epoxy. When that co's interest went up in flames ..... there was a new trend or "player" in town. Russian birch. Seems the ruskies got this stuff coming out of their ears? Nothing new on the trees themselves,it was trade agreements and political climate that saw them "dumping" it on our,tenuous at best,lumber mkt.
The above is just,reasonably close tale of the how's N when's. No need to get your pantys in a wad.
The laminated stock(and bow) wood we get today is not in the league it was say 20 years ago.
"Early" laminated material,this being what gunstocks and trad bow parts consisted of; was brought to the forefront by a company up in NY,if memory serves? Late 1980's? Can't remember the co's name...... further CRS,that place burned to the ground. ANYWAY,back then as a burgeoning market/product,like so many things was held to a much higher std than what's being produced today. Originally,it was all,"hard maple" with honest to goodness epoxy. When that co's interest went up in flames ..... there was a new trend or "player" in town. Russian birch. Seems the ruskies got this stuff coming out of their ears? Nothing new on the trees themselves,it was trade agreements and political climate that saw them "dumping" it on our,tenuous at best,lumber mkt.
The above is just,reasonably close tale of the how's N when's. No need to get your pantys in a wad.
The laminated stock(and bow) wood we get today is not in the league it was say 20 years ago.
Walnut "works" as a stock wood because of it's vibration damping characteristics moreso,than any perceived "good looks". Not saying a good crotchy pce of walnut isn't slackjaw..... am talking about straight grain,"rank N file" wood used in production rifles.
Can't think of any wood that damps vibration as well? Put it this way,as a "core" wood in a bow limb,walnut is the LAST species you would ever use because it's "slow". Maple being the polar opposite. But as a riser wood,walnut makes sense..... now think rifle stock..... as the stored energy of a bow limb is released(rifle ignition) the vibration has to go somewhere. Part of that somewhere is in the riser(handle). "Why" this is,can't say .... but you sure as heck can feel it.
So,not dispariging anyone using other species for rifle stocks..... just sayin,from a vibration damping standpoint,straight grained walnut is at the head if the class. Good luck with your projects.
Can't think of any wood that damps vibration as well? Put it this way,as a "core" wood in a bow limb,walnut is the LAST species you would ever use because it's "slow". Maple being the polar opposite. But as a riser wood,walnut makes sense..... now think rifle stock..... as the stored energy of a bow limb is released(rifle ignition) the vibration has to go somewhere. Part of that somewhere is in the riser(handle). "Why" this is,can't say .... but you sure as heck can feel it.
So,not dispariging anyone using other species for rifle stocks..... just sayin,from a vibration damping standpoint,straight grained walnut is at the head if the class. Good luck with your projects.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Laminates originated in Vermont as I remember. (IIRC, Rutland area near NY border.)
Yes it was produced under hi pressure, heat and epoxy. Produced a heavy dense product that was remarkably stabile.
CW
Yes it was produced under hi pressure, heat and epoxy. Produced a heavy dense product that was remarkably stabile.
CW
Rick H
Well-Known Member
Laminated stockwood predates the 80's by at least 20 years. Remington was making walnut/maple laminated stocks in the 60s (anyone else remember the Remington model 600 Magnum?)
Rhinehart Fajen was selling laminated walnut/walnut and walnut/maple rifle stock blanks in the 60's and 70's as well. I always thought they were a bit gaudy for my tastes until I saw some very nice stocks from an outfit in Montana. Laminated walnut for stability and just beautiful to look at as well.
Rhinehart Fajen was selling laminated walnut/walnut and walnut/maple rifle stock blanks in the 60's and 70's as well. I always thought they were a bit gaudy for my tastes until I saw some very nice stocks from an outfit in Montana. Laminated walnut for stability and just beautiful to look at as well.
GEMIHUR
Member
I shape wood like I hunt. Kill 'em all and now and then you're given one with character.
Here's a piece of maple that had some specialness about it.
You can see it before it's finish and a bit more whittlin' yet to do a few posts back
... Below is one I did for my neighbor, Larry, outta cherry!
Here's a piece of maple that had some specialness about it.
You can see it before it's finish and a bit more whittlin' yet to do a few posts back
... Below is one I did for my neighbor, Larry, outta cherry!
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