Repairing a split timber stock

[nords]

G'day,

I've picked up a cheap .308 in need of repair as a bit of a project to work and learn on.

The steel needs a clean and blue, but the biggie is the stock has split through the butt plate. The grip and fore end are intact though.

The stock is walnut, I'm thinking fill the crack with epoxy for the join, wipe off the excess and sand any bad texture then re-oil the stock.

I don't care about seeing a line through the plate, I just want it smooth to the tough and fixed.

Will that do the job or do you reckon it will split again with recoil?

Tips for improving the repair?

[FuzzyM]

I think it would probably need pins or something to join the bits together. I have heard of doing that before, but I don't know a lot about firearm woodworking.

[Oldbloke]

Same problem on an old 12G I was given yrs ago. I glued and screwed. Worked ok. However if u counter sink the screws u could then plug the hole with wooden dowel. Would look better than the job I did. Do you know a carpenter who could offer assistance?

[brett1868]

Is there a glitch in the Matrix or are the previous 4 posts all the same?

[Monty]

They were (now removed).

It happens for Oldbloke and 1-2 other people that they get duplicate posts occasionally.

[Spooner]

Do you know did it break under recoil (would suggest a flaw in the wood) or did it get dropped?

[nords]

Supposedly broke during firing but it has it's share of dents.

If it didn't break as a direct result of someone dropping it I wouldn't be surprised if a drop weakened it before the recoil finished it off.

[Streamline]

However if u counter sink the screws u could then plug the hole with wooden dowel.

+1 for the dowels.

3-4 of those down the join and bond it all up. That ain't coming apart any time soon.

[nords]

Do you know a carpenter who could offer assistance?

Nah gunna be all DIY

[Bennybigbores]

If it was purely recoil splitting that walnut stock ( which is unlikely ) I wouldn't be putting it up to my shoulder in a hurry. It's been dropped or has major flaw in the grain of the timber. Id remove any old oil etc drill some small 3/16 holes into timber through the break, apply generous amount of liquid nails, clamp, wipe of excess, dry sand finish etc etc. liquid nails like sh!t on a blanket it won't come off, I've fixed 2 12g stocks now all good

[nords]

If it was purely recoil splitting that walnut stock ( which is unlikely ) I wouldn't be putting it up to my shoulder in a hurry.

I'm not thinking that's likely either.

Going to give it a go anyway though so we'll see soon enough how it turns out.

Cheers.

[Ade]

YouTube midway USA. a lot of really good gunsmithing videos. Stock repairs also. I've learnt heaps from em when restoring 100year old sidelock shotties.

[Chronos]

as said above dowels if you can. i'd opt for some 2 part epoxy over thicker liquid nails and wedge the split open and get the epoxy onto every surface then close and clamp til cured wiping off excess as it appears

5my old man araldited a handle on a cane knife about 40 years ago. about ten years ago he dropped it on the concrete and it broke again......10mm from the original break. lesson is araldite is stronger than the original timber after 40 years

Chronos

[bluerob]

I've got a Brno Model 1 that had a split that a mate (who knows what he's doing) tried pining etc. After a few shots, the split came back.

I'm just going to replace the stock with another Model 1 stock, hopefully on the next unicorn mail drop...

[fawksel]

After a few shots, the split came back.

Gotta use something stronger than bluetac