Calling all ash stocks

[Clark]

I'm considering building a T/C Hawken with a full-length stock from Pecatonica...but in ash. My gut instinct is to go with ash since nearly everyone else uses maple and why would I want to be like everyone else? (To which everyone else wonders "Why does he want to be like that small fringe group of shooters with ash stocks?") Getting back on track...

In any case I'm not settled on ash since I haven't really seen many guns with ash stocks. I was hoping that some on here could show me their own ash stocked muzzle loaders and if possible, a small run-down on how they finished it? Thanks for the help.

Clark

 

[rabjr]

Nothing wrong with being different, in fact I highly recommend it. Heres one Roy did in Curly Ash.
http://www.roystroh.com/custommuzzleloaders22.html

 

[Stophel]

I have a curly ash stock blank sitting here that has been "aging" for a couple of years. Just haven't gotten around to using it for anything yet. Haven't decided what to use it on.

 

[cptleo1]

It worked for me.

 

[crockett]

Both photos show a strong line to the grain (not the curl lines). Does Ash usually have those lines?? How well does it take stain?

 

[Stophel]

Growth rings. Ash will have alternating layers of very porous, and VERY dense rings. It stains well with Aqua Fortis. It has a nice golden color on its own.

 

[Charles D. Prokopp]

Stophel's got it there. That strong grain is ash's beauties. Staining is easy with this material. I've experimented with iron buff (Steel wool dissolved in vinegar) and the effect is interesting, if not startling!
Just take a good look at some old Louisville Sluggers and you'll see the visual impact the grain has.

 

[Zonie]

If folks want to see what the grain in Ash looks like go look at your (or your kids) regulation Major League Baseball bat. :grin:

No, not the "old bat" sitting across the room from you. :rotf:

 

[GobblerKnob]

It's not a gunstock, but this call is curly ash. I finished it using Minwax, 'Natural' stain. The paddle and base are highly figured walnut. Rick

 

[Clark]

Thanks for the replies. I'm familiar with ash and the only way I've ever seen it stained is a lighter color (much like baseball bats). There's nothing wrong with that but I would prefer something darker in the gun stock department. Thanks cptleo for nice pictures, I really like the look of that gun. Hopefully I'll have one similar to it in a year or two!

Clark

 

[MRW]

This isn't ash but if you are talking different woods for stock this UH is done in Pecan, very very hard piece of wood to work but nice grain

 

[Stophel]

In the 17th and early 18th century, the English liked to use Ash for military and "utility" guns. Here's a 1690's English carbine stocked in wonderfully curly ash. Note that there's no buttplate!

 

[Roy]

Another...

 

[bucktales]

That is one beautiful box call. :thumbsup:
Certainly nicer than my beat up old Lynch box. :haha:

 

[Old40Rod]

Roy... can you please give us the details on the stain and finish on that rifle? It is beautiful indeed.

 

[colmoultrie]

Here's my squirrel rifle. Unfortunately I didn't build it, and I don't know who did. Fortunately, it shoots beautifully, and looks even nicer. Even better, I got it for a song, because it came into my favorite gun shop - now sadly gone - on consignment, and I was the first person to see it.

 

[Roy]

Roy... can you please give us the details on the stain and finish on that rifle? It is beautiful indeed.

LMF Honey Maple, with a Walnut stain over that... and Chambers finish. :thumbsup:

 

[Old40Rod]

Excellent, thanks Roy!