doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Gunstock Staining

Steven
In David Westbrook's book about gunstocks he reprints an article about finishing that is very similar to what you do. (I'm trying to remember the original author.) This gentleman used a mixture of Behlen's American Walnut and Brown. Do you mix colors at all or do you stick with straight walnut stain?

Curt

As I said early on, this method as adapted from Mark Silver & Monte Mandarino's in Professional Stockmaking. A fine book! Dave is a very close friend.

SDH ,First of all let me say what a nice looking rifle that is.I love the linseed oil finish you used.It looks great.The color is outstanding.You have made the wood so much better.
I found a copy of professional stockmaking,and had a question.in the introduction he says he wrote the first volume containing books 1-3 ,and a second volume containing books 4-7.Did the 4-7 get published .My copy only has the 1-3.Do you know were i can find the 4-7 .thanks so much.PB

The proposed volumes were never finished, unfortunately, because the first did not sell all that well. Dave is out of them and because the printing plates were lost, I seriously doubt if we will ever see a reprint. One never knows? A truly fine book.

pb, I'm pleased that you enjoy the rifle, am currently checkering the stock and hope to have it on display in Reno.

Curt, sorry I missed your question, I use straight Am. Walnut tone.

Thanks so much, Steven. I think that's one of the loveliest single shots I've ever seen, can't wait to see the finished product. I'm so "over" all the blonde, bland walnut stocks out there. Dakota, for instance, seems to always leave their wood a golden yellow color that just leaves me cold. And then you see one of these great old reddish brown originals, or new work by someone who knows his onions, and you just go "aahhh..."

Steven,

A couple questions if I may. In your first post you describe filling the pores with Profin and rottenstone (8-10 coats) and then wet sanding with water. Do you wet sand with water between each coat? Is the Profin/rottenstone mix thinned at all? How much rottenstone is added to the Profin and how is it applied (brush or hand rubbed in)? Thanks for your time.

Thanks for your kind words Ryan, the reason you don't see more stained stocks is because it is so much more difficult to get a truly professional finish that way.

Craig, Wet sand after each coat, no thinning, rottenstone to thickness of toothpaste, rubbed in with cotton rag on finger.

Best, Steve

Steve,

Thanks very much! Hopefully I can make it to Reno this year and be able to meet you and see some of your work in person.

Craig

Craig, Sure hope to have this rifle there!
It would be a very good year to visit the ACGG show as it is going to move next year which I think is going to seriously affect all aspects of the event!

Here's a quick shot of the grip checkering layout with borders and master lines cut.

Best, Steve

Steve, I really love that color and grain. Keep the pictures coming!

Brent