The origins of fine stockwood

[Opposite Pole]

Gorgeous stocks

 

[Pat McP]

I've bought wood from Cook Woods a few times. Never disappointed with what I received. I ordered knife scales once to make 1911 grips, I received a phone call from the company explaining each piece I was ordering. I never got around to making those grips, but still have the blanks.

 

[RayAtkinson]

I prefer and use only Turkish or Russian walnut from soft shell trees over 200 years old..i get that wood from Bill Dowtins, old world walnut.com ….. I build my own stocks and have been at it for over 60 years..on occasion I build for someone else but have to have my arm twisted or in need of a new truck or whatever..Bill is the most informed gun stock wood expert and he owns a mill in Russia near the border of Turkey..US walnut for the most part has too many pores...I only use Walnut for stocks other than muzzle loaders and I like tiger maple and lots of Alkanet root..

 

[CBH Australia]

Mmm, sounds like that shop has too many options,
It will be nice to see the end result

 

[chashardy]

I completely agree with the saying, "Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun."
I have to admit that my choices in shotguns and rifles the last few years have been made on the basis of which particular gun (once the caliber etc. had been decided) had the best wood.
Good luck on your project!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thank you for the feedback. My knowledge on this topic is limited but slowly growing. The idea for the thread was born out of rummaging through the many blanks and seeing some exceptionally beautiful pieces harmed by cracks, knots, or other seemingly unexplained damage. While "playing" in the wood pile, Chris showed me the beautiful feather crotch slab that had too many imperfections to even attempt pulling a blank out of. He then told me even with all his knowledge of judging and buying logs, he cannot know what he will find until the day the log is cut. Some days are diamonds and some days... well not (knot) so much.

Finally the risk does not end at the blank stage, some blanks still hold mysterious weaknesses that are uncovering in the stock making process. The old and experienced stock maker can repair some of the issues while others are lost.

Another friend of mine who has his connections fairly deep in the west coast gun world told me about a particular gun he bought and noticed a slight irregularity with the stock. If I remember the story correctly, the stock dimensions were not standard to that particular make and model. He happened upon a gent he knew used to build stocks for the company that made the gun and asked about it. After all these years, the stock maker immediately knew that particular rifle as he had worked on it! The retired stock maker then explained all the issues that had to be overcome. Other than the slightly noticeable (only to a collector) dimensional difference, one could not see the other issues that were repaired before sale.

Fun to hear these stories.

@hunting Gold
I have to agree with Steve white on his assessment that a lot of good wood has been wasted by mistreating it and not harvesting the whole tree roots and all.
If the ends aren't sealed properly you are just inviting trouble.
I have to agree that Rodger Vardy does indeed have some beautiful walnut and when he buys a tree he digs it out roots and all. After it's slanted he seals each piece and allows it to age naturally.
When I was having my lowall built I obtained my wood from Luxus walnut in the USA. Yes it's expensive but at the time the Aussie dollar was worth $1.24 US. To me the blank I got SL2 was the number was just the ducks guts.
It made into a nice rifle.

When it comes to walnut you only get what you pay for. I was happy with mine.
Bob