doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Bring out your wood

I have a matched pair of these, two blanks cut from adjacent slices of the same stump. I also have a matched pair of rifle blanks cut from another section of this same stump that are very, very similar, four total blanks from the same stump, all dry and ready to be used. The rifle blanks will likely get used first, later this year, perhaps.

This seems a good learning opportunity for me--I was pretty comfortable with the wrist grain--although there are places showing where the grain "leaves" the stock (shown in red) the wrist itself is in no danger of cracking. I'm confidant that given good inletting and a pad to protect the grain on the toe, there will be no problem, and I've never heard of a pistol grip breaking off. Also, the grain on the other side of the stock follows the pistol grip more closely--since the side showing was the more "iffy" of the two, I traced the pattern there.

If I thought that the wrist was in danger because of this layout I would not have purchased it--flipping it is ok too, but since I have a funny size stock my pattern didn't fit on the blank well that way unless I either included some sap wood or left much of the figure out. I don't think that came across very well in the photo, though.

If anyone thinks I'm off-base in this, please don't tell me--it's too late! (kidding--please fire away if you disagree)

By the way, I am especially enjoying seeing BOTH the original photos of the blank, and the finished stock next to each other...I hope that isn't hijacking the thread, but for this kid anyway that seems a great way to develop an eye for "seeing what's in the blank".

Dave,
I don't know about Doug, but I have some blanks around that aren't ideal for strength in the wrist, yet are nice blanks overall. I keep them around for one of those easy recoiling small gauge stock jobs. Also, internal re-inforcement can be done in a number of ways. I saw an article in a magazine where they used unidirectional pre-cured fiberglass rods of small dia in several locations thru the wrist.

Hey, I've got a blank that looks just like this one!

Glenn

I also have a plank like that.

I'll get this rifle built someday, really I will. Its mine, a Wesson action and the stick of walnut is very very dense. Just what I was looking for for a .450 3&1/4". I hope to get back toi it in the next week or 2.
Steve

Gentlemens:

Here is a picture of a couple lowly American Black blanks... They are destined to become a match pair of Winchester Single Shot take down Schuetzen rifles of the Laudensak configuration.

Glenn

Glenn,

Those will make up in very Winchester like style; they seemed to pick blanks with feather radiating from the point of the comb. Nice projects! What calibers will they be? I assume one will be a .22, the other could be .25 - 20, given some of the recent "Quarter Bore" scores.

Don't say lowly American black walnut. That is my very favorite looking wood.