other wood for tips/caps?

[clockwork_7mm_gator]

Gents,

My first install on an ebony forend tip and grip cap is underway. It's going well enough that I'm looking ahead to another stock project. I'm wondering, other than ebony and rosewood, what other types of wood y'all have used to dress up a stock? African Blackwood seems like it would work well based on the other things I've seen it used for?

Thanks y'all.

 

[ChrisG]

I have used Wenge. You need a contrasting wood for it to look right. I honestly don't think rosewood caps look great myself. African blackwood is indistinguishable from ebony for a forend cap, unless the ebony is Macassar in which case you typically will have some striations and color in the wood. Blackwood will look great. Wenge worked, but the grain in it is very deep and took a lot of filling.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I have used Wenge. You need a contrasting wood for it to look right. I honestly don't think rosewood caps look great myself. African blackwood is indistinguishable from ebony for a forend cap, unless the ebony is Macassar in which case you typically will have some striations and color in the wood. Blackwood will look great. Wenge worked, but the grain in it is very deep and took a lot of filling.

Yea I’m not a fan of Rosewood forend tips or grip caps at all

 

[nztimb]

African Blackwood is one ofthe oiliest of woods and is very stable but it can be a bear to work with it gumming up files and sandpapers within a few strokes.
Other than this blackwood, ebony and buffalo horn there is nothing that really looks "right" on a nice wood and blue steel rifle.
Of course there are a number of other contrasting woods that have been used but it often looks like a second best choice at best and sometimes a bit crass at worst.

 

[clockwork_7mm_gator]

Thanks, Von Gruff. I was hoping you might have a thought on this.

 

[steve white]

The oilier the wood the more difficult to epoxy on--dowels definitely needed.

 

[nztimb]

The oilier the wood the more difficult to epoxy on--dowels definitely needed.

I always use 3 brass dowels with light striations on the dowel for attaching the forend tip. Always give the blackwood a good wipe over with acetone before epoxing them together.

 

[AZDAVE]

I have used leadwood and ironwood.

 

[clockwork_7mm_gator]

I ended up using a hardwood dowel this go-around. I'm working on a Boyd's stock and because the area under the barrel is mostly hollow, I had a limited length into the stock for the dowel to go. (I ended up just going through the little wall and having some epoxy in the cavity to maximize hold. But on a solid forend, I like the idea of multiple brass dowels.

 

[mdsalern]

What about using a metal grip cap?