Who makes the stocks for TOTW kits?

[kb466]

Does anyone know who makes the stocks for the kits offered by Track of the Wolf?-- in particular, their 1742 Brown Bess kit? It looks like it might be a product of Dunlap Woodcrafts. The reason I'm asking is that a friend is offering a TOTW Brown Bess kit to me. I would like to build it with an English or European walnut stock, but TOTW says they can't provide one in anything but American black walnut. If I knew who makes these stocks, I figure I might be able to go to the source for one made of English walnut. Thanks for any help.
Bill M.

 

[fusil de chase]

The rifle Shoppe offers European Walnut Stocks for the Bess(s) set you back about 4 bills. Might consider choosing the era/mdl you want from thier catalogue and going all in on the gun with thier complete kit.

 

[kb466]

That is interesting. When I called TOTW, admittedly a few months ago, they told me the Bess stock was only available in American black walnut. I hope it's available in European or English walnut.
Bill M.

 

[BillinOregon]

Might also check with Pecatonica.

 

[galamb]

I believe I heard/read once that Track and Pecatonica get their pre-carves from the same source(s).

A "few" shops produce the different profiles for them.

 

[kb466]

I did check with Pecatonica's website and didn't see any Bess stocks. I'll call TOTW on Tuesday to see if I can get a Bess stock in European walnut now. Of course, the Rifle Shoppe offers a 1742 Bess stock in European walnut, but I already have a 1756 Bess parts set on order from TRS that I ordered some time ago and I was looking for a project I could start on more quickly. Besides I don't know if the TOTW Bess parts would work in a TRS stock. I've been happy with TRS parts, but the reason for looking at a TOTW kit is that I won't have to wait months or years to start building it.
Bill M.

 

[galamb]

You may want to give Knob Mountain a call as well. They have more stocks in more styles than all the others put together.

Contact info should be on their website Knob Mountain

 

[Zonie]

Um..... Pecatonica River has a 24 spindle duplicator machine to produce the pre-carved stocks they sell.

One of the duplicators is shown in figure 3 of this link
http://www.blackpowder411.com/builder/tips-and-tools-with-fred-stutzenberger-part-4/

They are the largest producer of pre-carved stocks I know of and although I have never heard Track of the Wolf admit it, I'm sure that Pecatonica River supplies most of their stocks.

That said, they do not offer a Bess stock and I have no idea where TOTW gets theirs from.

 

[LRB]

Whoever makes them has a bad habit of cutting the barrel channels too deep in the mid section of long rifles. I have a second one in progress cut that way. Only good solution is glass bedding, or gluing in a filler strip in the barrel channel or you end up with a very curved profile in the ram rod groove. This last one makes two out of three for those cut for a 44" swamped barrel. I would recommend whoever cuts for Chambers, and leave TOW's alone.

 

[alex efremenko]

First you best find a piece of European Walnut of proper size for your project.Long pieces are becoming scarce. TRS does not have any,I can tell you first hand,If they say they do they are lying.Your best bet would be to try Knob Mt./Dave Keck.That's where I'd go. Good luck!

 

[excess650]

You could try Dunlap's Woodcrafts. It appears that they have, or can make BB stocks, and may have English Walnut.
http://www.dunlap-woodcrafts.com/

Goby Walnut doesn't list any English blanks suitable for a BB.

 

[Birddog6]

It is not the cutter.... it is the Patterns are worn out or are wrong initially.
The venders send the patterns to the cutter & say "Cut this" and they do. HUNDREDS of them.... The patterns get worn out after hundreds of them are cut from it, & they may not build the patterns back up from the wear, they just keep using them. (or they were not correct initially)
I had 3 Chambers stocks over-cut on the lock inlets, RR pipes, sideplates. I won't buy any more. I quit buying from TOW long ago because of this as well.
I have been told by several that Chambers, TOW, Dunlap, etc are all having them made by Pecatonica But... on THEIR OWN individual patterns. So it may not make as much dif. on the cutter as it may rely on the cond & accuracy of the Pattern, as the pattern that makes the pre-shaped stock correct or not. That boils down to how many stocks are cut on that pattern & how well the Vender keeps up with the wear on it, and is it correct Initially.
I have had several venders send me patterns to check & see if they are cut correctly. I would check them, mark what I thought wrong & send them back. 2-3 times of this & they have a pattern that a person can build a rifle on & not have to start gluing in strips & chunks.

One thing I would insist on if I bought one. I would make sure they know if it is not correct or is Over-cut, it is coming back Collect & they are giving me a Full refund, or I would not buy from them.

Keith Lisle

 

[Vaino]

Chambers precarves are cut by Bob Lepley who owns L&G Woodcarving. Whether Lepley supplies precarves for other suppliers, I don't know. All 3 Chambers Early Lancaster precarves that I got w/ his parts sets had minor flaws which were readily "fixed".

Returned some precarves to TOW and Pecatonica for discrepancies and Pecatonica did well w/ the replacement, but the parts set and precarve from TOW was given a full refund.

If a precarve sits around for awhile, warpage happens....Chambers ships the precarve right after it's done and I have never had any warpage from them.....Fred

 

[kb466]

First you best find a piece of European Walnut of proper size for your project.Long pieces are becoming scarce. TRS does not have any,I can tell you first hand,If they say they do they are lying.Your best bet would be to try Knob Mt./Dave Keck.That's where I'd go. Good luck!

Well, I hope you're wrong about TRS not having any European walnut. I hope they have access to some because I ordered and paid for a 1756 Brown Bess stock blank of European walnut about 18 months ago. Still waiting on the stock and the parts set I ordered along with it.

I ordered a European walnut stock for a P1853 Enfield from Dunlap's a couple of years ago. The sent me a beautiful stock striped the whole length. I'm hoping they can make me a Bess stock that would work for the TOTW parts. We'll see. If not, I guess I will look at another project.
Bill M.

 

[alex efremenko]

I wish I was wrong.My friend and I are going 2 years on a parts set[him four]. First he[Jess] could'nt get longer barrels made.I remedied that,but
it was like getting State's secret for barrel dimensions.He was supposedly getting ready to inlet the barrels about a year ago till he revealed to my friend[who just so happens to be on good terms with Jess] that he cannot locate good EW. And anything he had was still green on the inside since then i have built from scratch,using thier hardware, a similiar,longer barreled gun using EW,which sat in my shop for 6 monthes before i rememberd it was there.
Anyone who inlets your stock will need THE barrel.Knob Mt. might have a pattern.But I honestly believe he would not be able to do any of the lock/ hardware. He has some of Kit Raveshear's English gun patterns ,So you might be in luck.Only way to know is to call him.

 

[alex efremenko]

And..FWIW, the last few TRS barrel inlets I had just flat out sucked :barf: .I they came from anyone else i would have sent them back.A lot of extra work i did'nt need, or get paid for.just more to consider.
The best inlet i had to date was Mark Weider of Jack's Mt. Gunstocks, He did my 57.5" barrel and it was perfect in all ways.And done in a timely manner.
I dont mean to sound bitter or personal about TRS.I'm just being truthfulThey offer very Unique things and they know it.Ive bought things from them and will continue.Thier customer service model just does not exist.

 

[kb466]

The last parts set and stock that I received from The Rifle Shoppe was a 1795 Springfield musket. This stock was an American black walnut, of course, and the barrel inlet looks spot on. Lots of nice figure in this stock, which was unexpected. I haven't started building it yet, but it is next in line.
I'm a little concerned about your comments that TRS can't get European walnut. I guess I should try to get hold of them to see if they will be able to provide my 1756 Bess stock of European walnut or not.
Bill M.

 

[excess650]

The best inlet i had to date was Mark Weider of Jack's Mt. Gunstocks, He did my 57.5" barrel and it was perfect in all ways.And done in a timely manner.

I've been in his shop and had several stocks carved by him. Inlets on barrels are always perfect because he uses YOUR barrel for the pattern. IF you have your own stock pattern and its viable, he will use it.

Waiting 18 months for a parts set that was paid for up front is absurd/ridiculous/ludicrous :td: ....kinda like gettin' a barrel from a particular maker who's business had a good reputation in years past. :stir:

 

[alex efremenko]

Heck,I have problems finding EW.Dunlap has some.But best know your dimensions before you call .

 

[kb466]

Waiting 18 months for a parts set that was paid for up front is absurd/ridiculous/ludicrous :td: ....kinda like gettin' a barrel from a particular maker who's business had a good reputation in years past. :stir:

About waiting 18 months for a parts set from TRS, you should expect that and plan accordingly. It's their way of doing business as far as I can tell. It took about that long for my 1795 Springfield parts to arrive, but I planned as much and was very pleased with what I received. As far as I can tell, they sell quality products which you can't get anywhere else. Right now I'm more concerned that they won't be able to deliver the 1756 Bess stock in European walnut which I ordered with my parts set. As for the TOTW 1742 Bess kit that started this thread, I'm becoming increasingly pessimistic that I will find a European walnut stock for it. I'll try making some phone calls tomorrow and may end up looking for a different project instead of this TOTW Bess.
Bill M.