Cracked stock with old fixing

[Josiwe]

Hi!

I have this old rifle with a cracked stock and it seems they tried to fix the crack a long time ago. How do i fix this? I have some basic woodworking skill.

Best regards

 

[andy52]

Well, that's a bit more than a crack. To me, it looks like a complete break in the wrist area. That won't be a quick fix.

 

[deermanok]

I watched a video a couple days ago. The guy was showing a old rifle and it had a repair done on that same area in your pictures.
Whoever did the repair years ago used some sheet brass wrapped around the wrist and screwed into the wood.
It looked good and strong.

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Crack goes under the trigger guard? Pull the guard. Drill down from the top at an back angle, insert a threaded metal rod OR a wooden dowel. I'am thinking wooden dowel and lot of epoxy?
Seen a few center fire thumb hole stocks brake like that in that weak area. LOTS more recoil that BP guns and the stocks held up pretty good with that type of fix.

 

[rchas]

I agree with inserting a rod or dowel, but I would remove the lock and barrel, and drill from the breech end of the barrel inlet down the wrist instead of under the trigger guard.

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Drill down from the top at an back angle, insert a threaded metal rod OR a wooden dowel.

You're coming out under the trigger guard? Maybe drill from the back "into" the lock inlet area? Won't be a 5 minute job for for sure.

 

[Daryl Crawford]

Don't know how thick that wood is from the pics, but two pins could be good (with epoxy) followed by wire wrap.

 

[ord sgt]

The rifle in my sig picture was broken in two pieces. Some epoxy was used to join the pieces together. After a long dry time, the brass band was placed to strengthen the joint. That was 35 years ago. The rifle is still working well. I am using it as a test base for some chert that was knapped by another forum member.

 

[oldwood]

Don't take this wrong , but this is a reaching moment. This stock is a classic example of why quarter sawed wood shouldn't be used for any gunstock. The good news is , the guys here have already presented some pretty good fixes. Epoxie and long drywall screws inserted in part inlets across the grain of the break. Lotsa Epoxie too.

 

[Joemolf]

My only comment would be not to use drywall screws they are too brittle and God forbid it should break. I exeperinced a a similar brake on a rifle i am quite fond of. It was deliberately damaged by a thief who obviously had no use for it. It was apparently smashed against the floor butt end and shattered with splinters at the wrist that I figured it could never be repaired. I figured it was going to need a new stock. I called Track of the Wolf and a gent there gave me the name of a master builder. I sent him the broken rifle to see if he could repair it and get a repair estimate. He gave me a price I new it was not going to be cheap because of all the splintering. He fixed it so well you would never know it was ever broken. I paid a lot but I don’t regret it at all just my pocket. To me it was a beautiful rifle nice brass patch box, carving and silver wire inlay. It was made in 1980. He also repaired the beautiful lock that was worn. Your break is not as bad but if it has some value and sentiment and the repair is beyond your cability give track a call and ask them for there recommendation. I’d put his name up but I want to maintain his privacy. I think most would have replaced the stock but then even if mirrored it would not be the same rifle. Good luck!

 

[Josiwe]

thank you all for the good answers. drilling and putting a dowel of somekind sounds intresting. but what about the old fixing? wont it make some problem? of i pull the gun sidewides the crack flexes a bit.

best regards from sweden

 

[French Colonial]

Its hard to tell from the pictures but those dark spots on the top of the wrist may be covering pins or something that has already been inserted, just guessing.

Personally I would strip it completely down and wiggle it until the old repair came apart (I doubt you could make the old repair worse) I would then scrape out any old glue etc. that was holding the stock from matching up with the smallest gap in the crack possible.

After getting the two pieces to match up as exactly as possible I would either use tite-bond or similar wood glue if I could get down to the wood in the crack, if there were still quite a bit of old glue present I would use epoxy instead of the wood glue and make sure BEFORE applying either one that I could press the two pieces together very tightly while they hardened.

After this set up I would drill through the joint at at least two different angles hopefully starting under the trigger guard if possible to hide the holes and without drilling all the way through to the top of the wrist and then epoxy in some small but hard threaded rod (cut the heads off some hardened bolts if necessary).

Depending on the final appearance of the repair I would either stain the stock very dark to hide the crack, or if it was still very apparent either wire or sheet metal wrap it and then antique it to appear as an old repair.

The main thing is to not rush things, this repair will take several days if done correctly.

 

[andy52]

Personally I would strip it completely down and wiggle it until the old repair came apart (I doubt you could make the old repair worse) I would then scrape out any old glue etc. that was holding the stock from matching up with the smallest gap in the crack possible

I didn't want to say that but that's exactly what I would do if the pieces will come apart without further damage. The photo of the trigger guard appears to have some fill in it which may be a problem. After looking a little closer at the photos there may be some fill on the left side of the gun also.

 

[Josiwe]

Hi all of you!

Thank you all för the great answers.
I have removed the pipe and the lock. Took some more pictures. Does somebody know ehst kinde of Wood the stock is made of? My guess is it is made of birch?

Best regards from Sweden