Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Figure in the Wood?

[SOLANCO]

Was looking at a flintlock rifle for sale. Beautiful.....except the stock had more stripe than any tiger which ever walked. The lines were thinner and more closely spaced than I am used to seeing. For me, that striping was a distraction which detracted from the overall beauty of the rifle.
I think a well executed long rifle will be beautiful without any ornamentation. But that an appropriate kind and level of embellishment will add to its beauty. And, frankly, the figure of the wood can be wonderful ornamentation. But you should see the whole gun, not have your attention riveted to some detail of it.
Yes. I know that is subjective and personal. But that is why there are different flavors of ice cream.

 

[TDM]

I agree, some that I’ve seen are a distraction. And as you said some may love that, while others not so much. No right or wrong. But I am anxious to see the wood on my SMR kit because I don’t want it to be overpowering.

 

[andy52]

Considering that wood in the largest portion of a long rifle looking good might be the right thing.

 

[jackpine54]

Sometimes a highly figured stock needs to be finished a little darker to mute it a little. Remember it's the finish that brings out the figure of the wood and to what degree. Just my opinion though.

 

[poker]

Is this a trick question?

 

[TDM]

Yes

 

[Fly Navy]

I love wood and the more figure the better. I do like my wood with a dark finish and as Jackpine54 said it does make the wood look better I think.

 

[necchi]

But that is why there are different flavors of ice cream.

Well said; and a very good point indeed. Thank you.

 

[Flintandsteel]

The only time figure is a problem, is a soft piece of wood, and trying to do detailed carving.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

What you are describing is a very expensive piece of wood. Like you I don't care for it to me it looks fake. I did a fake stripe like that on one years ago and it found a new home 30 minutes after I hung it on the club house wall at a shoot. I much prefer a stock with an uneven curl, to me that is much more appealing.

 

[user 48679]

Wood with a nice fiddleback to the grain is my favorite

 

[akroguy]

Highly figured wood can be kinda chippy when you're trying to carve it and some tiger striping can snag blades and scrapers when trying to shape. I like a modest amount of figure and allow the lines, the curves and angles of the stock and furniture to dominate.

 

[Big Bear Joe]

Was looking at a flintlock rifle for sale. Beautiful.....except the stock had more stripe than any tiger which ever walked. The lines were thinner and more closely spaced than I am used to seeing. For me, that striping was a distraction which detracted from the overall beauty of the rifle.
I think a well executed long rifle will be beautiful without any ornamentation. But that an appropriate kind and level of embellishment will add to its beauty. And, frankly, the figure of the wood can be wonderful ornamentation. But you should see the whole gun, not have your attention riveted to some detail of it.
Yes. I know that is subjective and personal. But that is why there are different flavors of ice cream.

Got photo?

 

[JeffG]

I never really was flush enough with cash to buy a stock that was "distracting". If somebody GAVE me said stock, I would just have to suffer along...

 

[tallPercshooter]

Always wondered - is curly maple or walnut just as strong as straight grain? I know large-caliber Hawkens were said to have straight grain maple stocks for durability.

 

[waksupi]

Heavy recoiling dangerous game rifles always get the straight plain wood. The highly figured wood will not stand up to the recoil of heavy caliber rifles. Broken wrists are common if a guy just insists he wants a fancy grain. Fancy grade wood should be on small bore squirrel and deer rifles. Something to keep in mind when you build a 10 bore rifle.

 

[Shadowalker164]

The curlier the better
Shadowalker

 

[Rifleman1776]

At one time I planned to go into custom gun stock duplicating. As part of that (failed) effort I made contact with some importers of fancy gunstock blanks. Some of the 'flame' walnut was fancy enough to knock yer eyes out. If that didn't do it, the price would, some in the thousands. So, my answer is "no". I saw some beauties that, for me, were not 'too much'.

 

[SOLANCO]

Got photo?

It is a rifle for sale on this forum. I would rather not name the gun and seller because I did not set out to criticize him or the builder.

 

[akroguy]

This is a CM4 grade (supposedly). It had some really hard and cross-grainy sections that would snag the blade or scraper...made for some challenging shaping. I like the end result, but a more modest grain structure is more to my liking so my Woodsrunner will have a standard grade from Kibler...which doesn't mean it won't have some figure, because he always overdelivers in every way.