Black Walnut Rifle Blank

[bashaw]

I had some Black Walnut trees die, I gave the logs to a guy that has a portable saw mill told him I wanted a slab to make a rifle stock, Now my dilemma how do I find a guy to make the Stock. Do I use it for one of the guns I already have or start completely from scratch.

 

[mdwest]

you know theres really no wrong answer here right?

I'd vote for a total build from the ground up... make it something special.. and do as much of the work as you can yourself (since the wood came from your property it would become something of an heirloom)..

 

[Hogpatrol]

Pros & cons on this company but I had good luck with a blank.

Richards Microfit.

About - Richards Microfit Stocks

About Richard's Microfit stocks Carl Richard, a Swedish Immigrant residing in Southern California, always maintained a passion for wood carving and finish carpentry. After his service with the Navy at Camp Pendleton during WWII, he took up employment in Research and Development / Pattern Making...

richardsmicrofitgunstocks.com

 

[Aaron N]

I think you’ll want to wait many, many years, and then another couple before using it for a blank.

 

[pilar]

Did you dig the stump out of the ground? The stump should have some beautiful stock wood

 

[bashaw]

Did you dig the stump out of the ground? The stump should have some beautiful stock wood

No I did nor, but I know your right

 

[bashaw]

Pros & cons on this company but I had good luck with a blank.

Richards Microfit.

About - Richards Microfit Stocks

About Richard's Microfit stocks Carl Richard, a Swedish Immigrant residing in Southern California, always maintained a passion for wood carving and finish carpentry. After his service with the Navy at Camp Pendleton during WWII, he took up employment in Research and Development / Pattern Making...

richardsmicrofitgunstocks.com

WW2 is he still alive?

 

[deewayne2003]

I believe the proper procedure for curing the blank is to paint the end grain of the black and then let it cure one year for every inch of thickness.

 

[TnKen]

I believe the proper procedure for curing the blank is to paint the end grain of the black and then let it cure one year for every inch of thickness.

Air drying that is the rule of thumb 1 year per inch.
I would want any rifle stock kiln dried to reduce the chance of wood movement and to prevent checking/cracking.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I had some Black Walnut trees die, I gave the logs to a guy that has a portable saw mill told him I wanted a slab to make a rifle stock, Now my dilemma how do I find a guy to make the Stock. Do I use it for one of the guns I already have or start completely from scratch.

you might want to ping @jswitzer about where to have the stock made. I'd say do something completely custom from scratch but you're going to have a multi year project on your hands while you wait for that blank to cure/dry