Wood grade 5

[ronaldrothb49]

I've got a CM5 blank can't remember how long it has been sitting in the workshop. I bought it from Golden Age Arms when they were going out of business. Think I paid a $100.00 for it. Have a .45 caliber Douglass barrel that I'm going to put in it one of these days.

 

[Crow#21957]

Thanks Kmcmichael

 

[SOLANCO]

Problem I have with some of the fancy wood is the stock steals the show. Did you build a rifle? Or just something to display the wood?

 

[Crow#21957]

I've not done it just thinking out loud.

 

[SOLANCO]

I've not done it just thinking out loud.

Sorry. Generic question. Not just you in particular.

 

[SOLANCO]

You can go crazy with the grips of a handgun and get away with it. Small surface area relative to the gun.
Not so much so on a rifle or shot gun. If ornamentation, which includes wood grade, is not in balance the gun will be unattractive. There needs to be a harmonious balance of wood, metal, finishes and ornamentation.

 

[CuNosecap]

I paid $300 over Chambers regular price set for a very nice piece. I guess that approaches the $600 mark or more. This is for the Mark Silver VA rifle in progress. Lots of curl, but won’t be able to fully appreciate the upcharge until it is carved, stained and finished. Patience.

 

[Rawhide67]

You may be disappointed in what Kibler considers plain. I friend of mine got an SMR with plain maple as he didn't want to spend more for a wood upgrade. I put the gun together for him. The curl in the plain maple was still pretty impressive.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

My word I thought maple would be real cheap in the USA Bought several pieces of English walnut cut from the trunk around £55 for a bit say 60cm by 150 cm buy 5 cm thick , last slab was for the 8 g shotgun. I got all three rifle stocks on floor out of one big £60 blank incl postage , the wood ok. Find em on sawmill eBay uk The real stuff comes from Turkey growing walnut is big around those parts Big old trees with massive root balls. The English gunmakers go there , beautiful stuff , sells for £1000s. especial fir matching pieces, as shotguns come in pairs. Cheap guns and air guns usually come in beach . All very interesting

I wish you well

Ps around 1847 English walnut was used but by 1853 gunmakers we’re starting to use french walnut , don’t here much about french walnut now

 

[Mike in FL]

What makes a piece of maple curly? Is the more expensive wood closer to the stump?

 

[Mulemauler]

One of the prettiest pieces of Walnut I ever worked with for a customer who wanted something really nice.

 

[Joemolf]

Anyone here ever paid $600 plus change
For a curly maple stock? I'm curious as to what a piece like that would look like.
Any pics?

Unless you’re a master at carvings I would avoid a xtra fancy piece of curly maple from all accounts they are the hardest to relief carve. Now if you don’t plan on carving it as in the case of my southern mountain rifle from master Kimbler then go for it because the curl is absolutely gorgeous. I finished mine with aquaforis and sealer. That was all it needed. I decided to add the finish and found that the curl didn’t take the high sheen finish as well which required much more work. I applied 4 or 5 coats of sealer. Yes I know high sheen SMRs are not spec but the wood was so pretty I couldn’t resist. So don’t just purchase a chunk of wood for its curl unless you are highly skilled it does require more talent to carve and even finish I’d say. I’m a novice take my advice with a grain of salt and weigh what the experts recommend. I’m currently building a Lancaster transition rifle it has the short barrel. I purchased two stocks from TOTW. The first being high grade curly maple. Thankfully i didn’t start it right away and was able to learn a lot about the different qualities of wood from this forum. After all I learned I ended up a year later purchasing a the same stock in plain maple. I’m glad I did as it is my learning rifle. I will also say that despite the xtra work you will have working from a blank is the way to go. There are many here that will help guide you. Pre inlet stock that I purchased was full of surprises. Complicated rework that I can do but not in the plan some of which will be difficult to hide when completed. Curly maple rifles are breathtaking relief carved or not. Even plainish maple finishes nicely. Good luck with your project!

 

[Eric Krewson]

I have a rifle from the 70s with this wood in it, the story goes that the builder and his buddies found a plank they could get several gunstocks out of, this was one of those stocks.

I don't have a clue how this would be rated.

In the shade

In the sunlight

 

[Tenring]

Problem I have is I could take the most expensive wood and turn it in to a five hundred dollar gun

Hell I could do better than that a 200.00 hundred dollar gun. LOL…

 

[Joemolf]

One of the prettiest pieces of Walnut I ever worked with for a customer who wanted something really nice.

Beautiful I’ve been a fan of walnut my entire life. Novice woodworker that made a bunch of mantle clocks in my youth. Walnut is an open grain wood so you can fill it for a smooth finish or apply lots of finish to give depth. I’m curious how you finished this piece; you obviously had one happy customer. Very nice !

 

[Joemolf]

I have a rifle from the 70s with this wood in it, the story goes that the builder and his buddies found a plank they could get several gunstocks out of, this was one of those stocks.

I don't have a clue how this would be rated.

In the shade

View attachment 242477


In the sunlight

View attachment 242478

Eric exquisite! Looks like wood you would find on one of those 100 k shotguns!

 

[springfield art]

Anyone here ever paid $600 plus change
For a curly maple stock? I'm curious as to what a piece like that would look like.
Any pics?

If you stare at it, the grain shows the Parting Of The Red Sea.

 

[CuNosecap]

What makes a piece of maple curly? Is the more expensive wood closer to the stump?

With regard to causes of curl, a quick Google search will tell you that the truth is, no one knows what causes it, although there are a number of possible theories. Below is a quote from an article by a trusted wood supplier:

“There are lots of theories about why figure develops, but the ultimate cause or causes are still unknown. None of the studies have shown a direct correlation between factors like geographic location, climate, soil, rate of growth, etc. and figure in wood. It has been found that the best figured wood usually develops in straight, well-formed, and healthy trees. All types of figured wood occur in all parts of the world, but there are certain areas that yield more trees with figured wood than other areas.”

And yes, the more curl present, the harder the carving is to do cleanly. My experience tells me that is due to the slight variations in grain density and direction that causes tools to either dig in or skip. Another reason to keep tools sharp, as there is less force required to effectively carve.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

I have a rifle from the 70s with this wood in it, the story goes that the builder and his buddies found a plank they could get several gunstocks out of, this was one of those stocks.

I don't have a clue how this would be rated.

In the shade

View attachment 242477


In the sunlight

View attachment 242478

I have a precarve similar to that, Found it in Pecatonica's seconds bin at friendship probably 25 years ago. Don't know what you call it but it sure is pretty. Probably going to be my next project. Trying to get all my parts used before I die.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

This is walnut 1860 from a working 8 bore percussion shotgun. Nothing special