European maple?

[StarnesRowan]

I am sure the question has been asked but was there any maple stocked European guns?

 

[waksupi]

Good question, I can't recall ever seeing one.

 

[StarnesRowan]

Good question, I can't recall ever seeing one.

I know there is some fiddles with currly maple backs made made in England

 

[52Bore]

Birdseye was popular/fad on British pieces 1820’s - 1840’s.
Photo of an 1825 piece.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Maple was used. I am not sure the species but there was a fad for using burl maple for stocks during the 1690s-1720s. English and European makers used it on expensive guns. The pistols below are by Andreas Dolep in London.

The burl wood had a tendency to check and crack and many maple stocked guns were restocked in walnut because of that.

dave

 

[52Bore]

Another Maple one I have, on a very small rifle. 30cal 2-groove.
Early 1840’s, appears to be burl maple.

 

[Rudyard]

Maple or Sycomore was used I certainly used Sycomore so called but essensialy a Maple wether plain or' knock your eye out 'curly . What is called' Sycomore' in the US is nothing like the UK stuff . I doubt there are many woods particularly fruit woods that are not at times used for stocks I've seen Ash & I've stocked in Mulberry, Kouri. and some white stuff a NZ native, No idea what it was but it's a blunderbuss now . I even stocked in West Australian Jarrah but that was only on a 'rock drill special' expedient as was another stocked in South African pine. .& Shedua a West Africa hardwood I believe , not sure but made several stocks from it anyway . inc appropriately a Nigerian 'Dane gun' 'After' the celebrated Jimmo Babatundi of Ikorudu lorry park fame (Ogan river school )flint lock of course & sporting the best three quarter inch galved water pipe barrel .(warranted not to burst more than once ) However that's not Europe & I digress .The Europeans seem to use some light wieght stuff well into percussion days that I can't recall its name . But the woodworms like it . I suppose in short you can stock in most any wood I once restocked a ' got up 'rifle on the river bank of the Whakatani from a driftwood snag timber . No clue what it was but it's still a serviceable stock since 1968. I did use European beech but it's tough stuff & heavy and rarely pretty if it can be quite pleasant with its distinctive fleck .Not sure if thats what you seek but it's about stock woods .
Regards Rudyard

 

[Ozark Mtn Muzzleloader]

Maple or Sycomore was used I certainly used Sycomore so called but essensialy a Maple wether plain or' knock your eye out 'curly . What is called' Sycomore' in the US is nothing like the UK stuff . I doubt there are many woods particularly fruit woods that are not at times used for stocks I've seen Ash & I've stocked in Mulberry, Kouri. and some white stuff a NZ native, No idea what it was but it's a blunderbuss now . I even stocked in West Australian Jarrah but that was only on a 'rock drill special' expedient as was another stocked in South African pine. .& Shedua a West Africa hardwood I believe , not sure but made several stocks from it anyway . inc appropriately a Nigerian 'Dane gun' 'After' the celebrated Jimmo Babatundi of Ikorudu lorry park fame (Ogan river school )flint lock of course & sporting the best three quarter inch galved water pipe barrel .(warranted not to burst more than once ) However that's not Europe & I digress .The Europeans seem to use some light wieght stuff well into percussion days that I can't recall its name . But the woodworms like it . I suppose in short you can stock in most any wood I once restocked a ' got up 'rifle on the river bank of the Whakatani from a driftwood snag timber . No clue what it was but it's still a serviceable stock since 1968. I did use European beech but it's tough stuff & heavy and rarely pretty if it can be quite pleasant with its distinctive fleck .Not sure if thats what you seek but it's about stock woods .
Regards Rudyard

I stocked this Traditions Tracker 209 inline rifle in what I was told was “English Sycamore” or “lacewood”. Is it the wood you mentioned?

 

[Rudyard]

Woods Wood it all varies tree to tree & parts thereof I see a Quilted effect but I never stocked modern arms unless you count an air rifle but it got a handrail stock . I don't do modern , maybe Sniders I stocked one of them & a 1846 Norwegian Kammer Lader its breach loader. Used plain Sycomore couldnt get the Birch the size needed Birch got used a lot all them 1991 Nagants unless US contracted & a raft or ML military got Birch stocks .
Cheers Rudyard

 

[Ozark Mtn Muzzleloader]

The style or type of arm isn’t exactly pertinent to the identification of the wood used. Now days I don’t do much with modern arms either, but I did this one years ago on a whim. I *believe* it’s a cousin to the maple that’s referred to as English Sycamore as it’s nothing like American sycamore at all & yet not exactly like the maple I’ve worked with. My apologies for posting images of a non traditional Muzzleloader, I was only trying to show the type/appearance of the wood used in making its stock.

 

[Rudyard]

I agree your rifle has outstanding wood choose what .It is a positive riot of contrasting grain very challenging but you 'nailed it as they say in cooking programs ' The US Sycamore' s seem quite different , the UK stuff called Sycamore is basically Maple & like maple seems to vary in density wood names seem to vary regionally & in the woodyards it's called different names locally its climate, soil type, growth rate all rather' mindboggling .'(boggles mine anyway )but I stock in it regard less .If there is a failing of maple it's the way it moves if constantly soaked one wet 13 day trip through classified wilderness( no tracks in it ) had it open below the lock inlet & away from the barrel but it moved back nice once it did dry even though the stock got blanched it took its colour again once dry .
Regards Rudyard

 

[James Kibler]

Hi,
Maple was used. I am not sure the species but there was a fad for using burl maple for stocks during the 1690s-1720s. English and European makers used it on expensive guns. The pistols below are by Andreas Dolep in London.

The burl wood had a tendency to check and crack and many maple stocked guns were restocked in walnut because of that.

dave

This stock was actually made by Jim Kibler of Hanoverton

It’s not completed. I haven’t worked on it for a number of years. It will have a serpentine sideplate, a thumb piece and be heavily wire inlayed.

Most of the metal parts are original Dolep work.

Yes, maple was used in Europe. I have been told “field maple” is one variety that was commonly used.

Jim

 

[Rudyard]

Dragon side plates yes If I always think wire inlays are a bit 'gingerbread'. Brilliant stocking as expected I couldn't pick it but then on that scale Ime just a hack .
Regards Rudyard