Maple vs. Walnut for SxS shotgun stock

[Sparkitoff]

What are advantages/disadvantages of each (if any)?

Thanks

 

[64Springer]

In my opinion, Walnut is infinitely easier to work with and would look better on SxS.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

English walnut is the best for this sort of thing

 

[Sparkitoff]

No other comments/opinions?

 

[Phil Coffins]

I prefer black walnut on all the doubles I rebuild, but they a those other guns.
IMG_0422 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr
all 125 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[andy52]

If it helps any I have 3 original SxSs and they're all walnut stocked.

 

[hawkeye2]

I would go with walnut for a double, it just seems more traditional to me. Maple, specially figured, would look out of place to me. The SxSs I have are walnut.

 

[Jason holgate]

I think walnut is heartier more forgiving sndveasier to work with

 

[Robby]

I made a double barreled rifle and used cherry. A good piece of cherry is a joy to work with.
Robby

 

[Pete G]

Shotguns require walnut.

 

[kje54]

I also agree that walnut would be the best and if you like the idea of a curly stock walnut does come in curly also.

curly walnut - Google Search

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

No other comments/opinions?

I already said it all.

 

[user 34300]

Based on the amount of work needed for a S/S shotgun, I would use the best stick of English walnut I could get. That is what I did when I build mine. Maple would look weird. American black walnut is more porous than English. Good dense English is very strong and cuts smoothly. The area under the breech is pretty thin. I would not risk using anything less.

 

[FlinterNick]

I always go with the stock that has a good balance of hardness and toughness as well as not being excessively heavy so that most of the guns weight is in the barrel, lock / receiver.

Walnut tends to always meet these expectations with some cuts of maple too. Cherry is good also.

Heavier grades of maple i tend to shy away from.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I always go with the stock that has a good balance of hardness and toughness as well as not being excessively heavy so that most of the guns weight is in the barrel, lock / receiver.

Walnut tends to always meet these expectations with some cuts of maple too. Cherry is good also.

Heavier grades of maple i tend to shy away from.

Weight is always an indicator of hardness. You want the hardest piece of wood available.

 

[SOLANCO]

Some things are just meant to be. Walnut on double guns is one of them. Love the curly maple on my flint long rifle. Could not abide it on a classic double.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

English walnut is the best for this sort of thing

Diss agree the french is better ???? . EM Reilly went over to better quality french walnut in 1848 don’t know why it’s different unless the trees are a different strain or go bigger Or french walnut was more plentiful. Photo cape rifle 1853 french walnut at a guess by EM Reilly junior Today the best walnut seems to be coming from Turkey

 

[FlinterNick]

One point to make is what wood works best for finishing talents.

Not everyone is good at finishing wood …. Supplies, understanding grain patterns and also patience in allowing you project to dry. Walnut is what I work with most often.

Maple is a little tricky at times .. cherry finishes wonderfully

I will never touch a beech or teak stock again

 

[SOLANCO]

At the risk of pounding on the obvious, walnut is not like wheat. You do not grow a useable tree in a season. And, because of it's slow growth and deeper roots, a tree is more a product of its location and terrain than is, for example, wheat.

 

[Fly Navy]

I have always been a big fan of nice walnut.