Understood. Worst tool to use when shaping a stock is a semi sharp tool or dull tool. They cause the worst problems. I try to keep my tools scary sharp and only work when I am not tired or distracted. Done both and learned to regret it. A sharp tool allows for extremely thin cuts to be perfectly smooth. A dull tool will follow soft grain and dig it. When friends want to know How to start carving or making a stock I tell them first learn how to sharpen tools scary sharp. Until
They master that they will never get much done.
I once made a stock out of salt treated wood as a joke for a friend. He ran a company which made Salt treated wood products. That was soft then hard all the way. Made it for his Mossberg 500. He used it for several years in duck hunting. Kept it is the middle seat of his John boat. No telling how many ducks that stock help kill. He is now duck hunting at another level, where weather is never too hot and black ducks all come into decoys first pass.
