doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DIY Gunsmithing @ doublegunshop.com Total Stock Blank Transformation: How is it done?

Only asking tut.

If someone were to use the finished stock, in the provided pictures, as a pattern and laid it on the blank, in the provided pictures. Is there enough wood in the pictured blank to form the head of a buttstock? I'm asking in the context of placing that depicted blank feather pattern in the same orientation on that depicted finished stock, not if there is the physical volume of wood in that blank to create a stock.

The blank in the photo is thin shell walnut. The finished stock is not. The blank has no figure in the front two thirds. There's no way it could be transformed into a fully-figured stock.

Keith, you're getting positively warm and fuzzy. Did you just join the Democratic Party? I wouldn't bet on it. Still, it's good we can agree on something.

Bill, did you turn in your dem. card? What if that blank identifies itself as neutral and not a pleasantly plump female? Are you disputing the science of how you are being forced to feel?

Just kidding Bill. For stock and blank conversation purposes, it seems that you're saying that 'figure' is generic. By that line of thinking, can't there be some uncovered figure beneath the straight appearing grain?

Would have to hold the blank in my hand with the pattern stock that was to be duplicated. That's the only way to know for sure IMO. Falling also into the FWIW, category, I once bought a Turkish blank with outstanding figure that the layout was so crappy, that the stockmaker (Guild Member) sawed it into a number of forearm blanks and a few for turkey box calls. That was an amazingly stupid (and expensive) mistake. But, I never make that error again. Their is such as thing as feather crotch Turkish. Here is an example of such stocked by Guild Member Dan Rossiter.

That is an absolutely beautiful stock.

Craig, If a blank is straight-grained on both sides. it isn't possible for it to be figured on the inside. Figure can come and go, but plain wood stays plain.

I'll take a shot at this. If a blank is dead nutz slab sawn with dark broad mineral streaks it can be turned into in some cases a dynamite looking stock with lots of smoke, that sorta looks like a Laminate stock. May look a bit weird on the top, but the sides can be really impressive.

Above said, based on what I've seen most stock makers however prefer quartersawn wood.

Hey Bill, I agree near a hundred percent, reserving the possiblity of surpises. I believe the reason we might agonize when selecting a blank is not for the figure, but that the figure and separately the grain has pattern and direction that has an implication to some with regard to desirability for use as a gunstock.

Nice stock and game picture tut.

I agree 100%. I have had all sorts of unexpected things happen when turning a blank, including bark pockets and voids in dead straight section of wood.

I think it is the same blank and just as Tut has said, likely laid out exactly opposite of how most Guild members would do it. Most of us were taught the same methodology of stock making and grain lay out at TSJC. Looks Claro or American Black to me but hard to say for sure from just a picture.

Yeah who does not love perfectly 1/4 sawn wood? I know I do but slab sawn is fine and you can get a damn fine blank out of rift sawn as well if you know how to find it inside the blank.

I for one am glad Bob shares his projects and it is great to see that Angelo Bee is still making chips!