Char-Gar
04-17-2007, 09:37 PM
After a thirty year hiatus, I am taking up stockmaking again. I find that those thirty years have been good for me. I have much more patience, enjoy the slow maticulos use of hand tools. I don't mind spending hours with needle files doing the slow fine detail.
My current Mauser project with 50 year old wood is going well and I am very pleased with the results.
Next up is a Krag sporter and I have another 50 year old or better blank. I bought it on Ebay for $25.00. It is the huge, bulky, square forend blank like they sold back in the 40's and 50's. You can make anything from a heavy target rifle to a light sporter with wood to spare. It has no figure, but a very tight, hard and straight grain and is properly laid out. The color is redish brown, and I believe it is American Black Walnut.
After that, I will be ready for "The Big Project". I will make a rifle for my son and I will (gulp) start from a raw blank. Now the question... What kind of walnut and where to get the blank.
What are your thoughts on AMerican, vs. French/European vs. English vs. Claro. and who are trustworthy purveyors of such wood.
I am interested in good dry wood. I am not going to mess with a very highly figured blank. I would like some wood that is dense, good grain and streaking and dark in color. This will be a hunting rifle and not an object or art to be kept under glass and handled with gloved hands.
My current Mauser project with 50 year old wood is going well and I am very pleased with the results.
Next up is a Krag sporter and I have another 50 year old or better blank. I bought it on Ebay for $25.00. It is the huge, bulky, square forend blank like they sold back in the 40's and 50's. You can make anything from a heavy target rifle to a light sporter with wood to spare. It has no figure, but a very tight, hard and straight grain and is properly laid out. The color is redish brown, and I believe it is American Black Walnut.
After that, I will be ready for "The Big Project". I will make a rifle for my son and I will (gulp) start from a raw blank. Now the question... What kind of walnut and where to get the blank.
What are your thoughts on AMerican, vs. French/European vs. English vs. Claro. and who are trustworthy purveyors of such wood.
I am interested in good dry wood. I am not going to mess with a very highly figured blank. I would like some wood that is dense, good grain and streaking and dark in color. This will be a hunting rifle and not an object or art to be kept under glass and handled with gloved hands.