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Forums10
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 404 Likes: 29
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 404 Likes: 29 |
I took a gamble and bought a gunstock blank lot off ebay. The listing stated that the seller's father made custom gunstocks and kept a few special pieces that he planned to use some day. The seller thought they were 'English Walnut', but he didn't know. I'm curious what you all think about whether I got a good deal (as far as you can tell from the pictures). I'm not planning to sell them. Just curious-- and hoping I can tell my wife that the "walnut chips", as she called them, that arrived at the house were worth at least as much as I paid. Without my saying (for now) how much I paid, what do you all think this collection of blanks might be worth? Blank #1: Blank #2: Blank #3: (does the 9/62 on this stock indicate that it was cut in 1962? If not, what do the marking on blanks mean?) Other Odds and Ends that came with the lot:
Jim
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 388 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 388 Likes: 4 |
I love #3. It looks like God grew it specifically to stock a POW or pistol grip with.
“I left long before daylight, alone but not lonely.”~Gordon Macquarrie
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,053 Likes: 8
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,053 Likes: 8 |
First thing I look for in a blank is how the grain runs through the wrist. #1 looks a bit iffy, #2 looks good except for what you might encounter at the butt end. #3 is definitely the best. The rest of the wood looks like an odd assortment that might fit any of several older guns. The one with the rubber pad looks like in might fit a Browning Superposed. And I'd say 9/62 is the date the blank was cut
I'm guessing you paid $350 for the lot and could sell for twice that.
Last edited by Dave Schiller; 07/07/20 05:06 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 404 Likes: 29
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 404 Likes: 29 |
What are you seeing in the wrist of the first blank that would make you concerned?
Jim
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 278 Likes: 21
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 278 Likes: 21 |
Need to see top, bottom and both ends to properly assess. The flash is but a small part of the equation.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,053 Likes: 8
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,053 Likes: 8 |
What are you seeing in the wrist of the first blank that would make you concerned? The grain is not exactly in line with the force. Maybe OK, but not ideal. The other side may be OK. I'm basing my conclusion on only one photo.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,702 Likes: 405
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,702 Likes: 405 |
actually, without actually seeing the pattern placement, I think it is likely that #3 over rotates that grain and may well chip out on top behind the fences. I like #1 a lot and maybe more than #3. The blank in photo number 5 might be a sleeper once it is planed down and that wood can be examined a bit more.
In any event, some nice wood that is certainly with a couple hundred bucks each (including that photo #5). And perhaps a lot more.
I do love looking at wood. Thanks for the pictures.
_________ BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan)
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 385 Likes: 10
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 385 Likes: 10 |
What are you seeing in the wrist of the first blank that would make you concerned? The grain is not exactly in line with the force. Maybe OK, but not ideal. The other side may be OK. I'm basing my conclusion on only one photo. I have to disagree fairly strongly in that regard.
Dumb, but learning...Prof Em, BSc(ME), CAE (FYI)
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 212
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 212 |
The chip out on the photo #5 blank might mean it doesn't take too kindly to planing? A good look at the end grain of that stick and the forend blank could be a good idea, it may have wicked up some unintended moisture. It still might be a nice blank, maybe look over the whole stash for little checks and splits?
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,709 Likes: 474
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,709 Likes: 474 |
I saw that lot on EBay. For what you paid for it you did OK to possible very well. Everything will work, if you are looking at a through bolt stock job. Others are right about the grain structure in the wrist being a concern based on limited photos. When you are buying blanks off photos you need all six side as a starting point. Many blanks are only great on one side or have grain which is more surface oriented which can run out when shaped. I have a couple blanks with crotch which might be nothing fancy when shaped that I bought long ago based on two photos of the sides. If I had seen a top and end grain photo I would have seen that the blank was all flash and not substance. Lesson learned.
Another thing photos can not show is the density of the wood. Orchard grown wood, tends to be faster growing wood and more open grain structured. If you can dent the wood with a finger nail it is too soft. We fall in love with fancy grain, when we should fall in love with a blank which is perfect grain flow with a bit of flash grain when finished.
Glad you bought the lot and that it went to a god home. Now you need to decide what to use it for.
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