making my own stock...

[FlintlockJonny]

so a while back I posted 'bout buying a new wood stock for my traditions bottom line flintlock with the composite stock. I changed my mind. I am going to make one, from scratch. Is there any advice other then take your time and have fun do you guys have? some questions are...
1. Whats a good wood to use?
2. How big should the piece be?
3. At what end should I start carving?
4. Do I have to do anything else specific other then pretty much copying the comp. stock I already have?

I want to pretty much use hand tools, maybe a jig saw or something to get a rough shape but after that razor blades, chizels and sandpaper. Thanks a bunch!

 

[Leonredbeard]

FJ,
Walnut is good, and cheap! It is very nice to work with.
Make sure the piece you acquire is as big in all dimensions as your comp is.
After rough sawing the profile, inlet the barrel first. Then the lock. Then the trigger(s). Then the buttplate, trigger guard, pipes.
During this process begin removing wood with saw, rasp, file, etc. as the need arises. Only you will know just when to remove wood from each area. I like to trim the wood along the barrel after the barrel is in, then cut the upper forarm (or is this a half stock?) Then drill or have drilled the ramrod hole. Then reduce the lock panels to close to what they will be for inletting the lock. If you do any shaping on the butt stock before inletting the butt plate, do make sure you don't take off so much that your plate sticks out beyond the wood! Once everything is inletted begin rounding the stock to dimensions.
Yes, unless you wish to change the shape, copy the comp you already have.
volatpluvia

 

[FlintlockJonny]

Thank you for the tips...this is my first major and undertaking involving anything with wood other then installing crown molding, baseboards and chairrails. SO....this may be way out of my league, but I am gonna try and see how it goes. I am setting no time limit and I will work a little at a time and have fun.

It is a half stock, and thanks for reminding me about the butt plate! :thumbsup:

 

[Birddog6]

I would inlet the barrel then drill the Ramrod hole, as if the ramrod hole is not in the right place it could scrap the stock. Then proceed as indicated above. Dif. guys do it dif. ways....... :thumbsup:

 

[shortstring]

I like to leave the forend square until after I shape out the butt. That way I got something to put in the vise while rasping the butt.

 

[rich pierce]

Get a book!

 

[Runner]

Read Mike's tutorial!

 

[J.D.]

Get a book!

Get a coupla books. You can't have too many books for building/repairing/restoring/research/drooling and what have you.

Everything you need to know is in "Recreating the American longrifle" and "Gunsmith of Grenville County". There are other sources, but those are two of the best. Older versions of "Recreating" include a full size plan of a golden age longrifle, but "Gunsmith" explains how to make your own pattern.

I would also suggest having the barrel channel and ramrod channel inlet and rr the hole drilled for you. It will save your sanity, not to mention saving a LOT of time, and possibly prevent ruining your stock.

Runner mentioned Brooks Gunsmithing 101 tutorial. That's good too, but IMHO, you need more.

I would suggest renting a DVD on building from scratch so's you will have an idea of what you will be getting into before you spend your hard earned cash on wood, tools and accessories.
[url] http://smartflix.com/store/video/217/Building-a-Kentucky-Rifle[/url]

Good luck and have fun,
J.D.

 

[Raynor]

Another excellent book that no one ever mentions is "The Modern Kentucky Rifle" by RH McCrory. It's a 62 page soft cover with all the info needed to build a beautiful longrifle. If I remember correct it cost less than $10 and is one of the books I turn to the most.

You'll start out with a blank that needs to be jointed flat on top and square to the lock panel. Here's one that has been untouched.

Here it is with the top flat squared to the lock panel, ready to have the barrel inlet. When using power tools I inlet the barrel full depth.

If I'm using hand tools to cut the barrel channel I'll cut away close to half the barrel width from the start. This Cherry blank will be inlet using hand tools with the help of a drill press to take the bulk of the wood out. The Cherry blank is from a log I cut some 20 years ago.

Use inletting black soon as you start getting things close and make sure your getting good contact the entire length of the inlet.

This is where I'm at now with a halfstock rifle I'm building. I used a blank similar to the one pictured above, not quite as much figure and curl though.

Inlet barrel
Cut ramrod hole
Inlet lock
Trigger
Butt plate

As mentioned, leave stock square as long as possible for holding in a vice and drilling holes.

I'm far from finished and have many more hours to go. :wink:

Just have fun and take your time, you'll be building from a box of parts soon as this one's finished. If your like me, maybe even before you get this one finished. :thumbsup:

 

[FlintlockJonny]

Thanks again everyone, Like I said, this is far beyond anything I have ever done before. I will probably pick up some books this week. I have no idea how long this will take, but i have no time limits but i am thinking at least a year till i get done. this will be done in my spare time, which I have very little of. I will be sure to take pics and keep everyone updated though!