Walnut shotgun blank stocks

[rookie]

Looking through various sites at walnut shotgun blanks is just like porn to me

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.. most are overseas in Turkey or the US.

Curious, are there many/any Aussie based importers etc that have websites? Where do stock makers get their blanks from? Not sure if this is something like a trade secret..?

[rc42]

There is certainly a diminishing supply of high grade hardwoods for gun stocks and a corresponding soaring price for the best wood.
Most of the suitable trees have been cut down already and nobody wants to wait hundreds of years to grow a new one, plus there's only a small part of even the large trees that produces the sought after grain patterns.

The gun stores that specialise in shotguns costing tens of $1,000 will have options for quality custom stocks but there will be ever fewer options and fewer craftsmen that can shape them.

No doubt part of the reason that Browning are experimenting with laminated stocks, quality hardwood for mass production just isn't an option anymore.

[bladeracer]

Timber only offers one thing in a firearm, aesthetics, in all other aspects laminates, polymers and aluminium are better for the purpose.

[No1_49er]

If you really like that "stuff", you could start out with something like this https://usedguns.com.au/gun/333720/
Nice!

[rookie]

There is certainly a diminishing supply of high grade hardwoods for gun stocks

Totally, I think that’s why you know these stocks are something really special - as it’s getting more rare, it’s something I like to stop and appreciate (especially if I’m supposed to be working and thinking about shooting instead)

Timber only offers one thing in a firearm, aesthetics,

Yeah, I understand but when I’m on the line (down the line shoot) waiting for my turn, sometimes seeing the guy next to me with his high grade stock, I do appreciate it. It’s something I’d like to own one day (ie. custom made stock with a perfect glove fit in some nicely figured walnut stock

If you really like that "stuff", you could start out with something like this https://usedguns.com.au/gun/333720/
Nice!

That looks awesome! One day… Thanks for sharing that, will have to search for that on usedguns every so often

[rookie]

Found an Aussie supplier .. http://www.rogervardystockwood.com/?q=products

[straightshooter]

Timber only offers one thing in a firearm, aesthetics, in all other aspects laminates, polymers and aluminium are better for the purpose.

I disagree.
I suppose it may be an issue for somebody, who for one reason or another, wants to be seen to be keeping up with the latest 'technology'.
Don't get me wrong laminates and aluminium do excel when used in some specific applications but not others.
Injection or rotary moulded plastic stocks are simply cheep.
For general sporting purposes decent wood always feels right.

[bladeracer]

Timber only offers one thing in a firearm, aesthetics, in all other aspects laminates, polymers and aluminium are better for the purpose.

I disagree.
I suppose it may be an issue for somebody, who for one reason or another, wants to be seen to be keeping up with the latest 'technology'.
Don't get me wrong laminates and aluminium do excel when used in some specific applications but not others.
Injection or rotary moulded plastic stocks are simply cheep.
For general sporting purposes decent wood always feels right.

A rifle stock, to make an effective rifle, needs to be totally inert, wood isn't. It changes shape randomly with moisture and temperature. It's also expensive, heavy, difficult and time consuming to manufacture, with a degree of manufacturing failures to be expected. It's very difficult to roll them off a production line to fine tolerances that guarantee swappability, unless you loosen up the tolerances. Wood is fairly easily broken or damaged, and difficult and expensive to repair or replace.

Feeling good is purely subjective, (as is your view about "being seen to keep up with technology, or being tacticool") and for me is also part of the the firearm's purpose, but "feeling good" doesn't make it mechanically "better", and a rifle's purpose is mechanical. There are very good reasons militaries stopped using wood as soon as better options became available. There are reasons people nowadays might prefer wood, but it can probably be considered "custom" nowadays to suit a specific person's preferences, whether aesthetic or tactile.

Polymers are not "simply" cheap, they are easier and cheaper to produce to the fine tolerances required, can be easily shaped in ways wood grain doesn't allow, are inert in temperature and humidity variations, are less easily damaged, and are very easy, quick and cheap to replace when damaged.

[rookie]

I suppose it may be an issue for somebody, who for one reason or another, wants to be seen to be keeping up with the latest 'technology'.

Yeah, I can see why some may go with what I call cyborg stocks:

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And without going into detail, you can tell the R&D they've put into this makes it

not "simply" cheap

But I think what I'm hearing is for consistency (in manufacture and in the hands of an average joe shooter), synthetic materials win as they can be more stable (a material) than wood.

.. I would probably agree (less variables = more consistency).

But I also hear what is being said ..

decent wood always feels right.

for me its because the proportion of where art becomes part of it is elevated when going beyond the base model firearms with synthetic stocks .. there are obviously those 50K ornately engraved shotguns that royals purchase (heard Prince Harry had to sell his pair of Purdey rifles when he got married ) .. but I'm not talking of that type of art as it's way out of my league

.. I probably started this thread as a shoutout to those who appreciate the technique and craftmanship that goes into creating a custom stock that fits like a glove and carving it out of a high grade bit of timber .. factoring in the grain direction and that they may only get one chance to get it right.

It's like "straight out of the factory stocks" (both synthetic and wood), made for the masses, can get most competition shooters to a totally respectable point but there's a great craft out there where custom stock makers are doing really nice work that I like to stop and appreciate.

What I'm not seeing though, is where they get their materials from ... is it a common thing to order high grade stocks from overseas, via a local specialist timber (shotgun blank) importer or just choose what's available from the shops direct

There are reasons people nowadays might prefer wood, but it can probably be considered "custom" nowadays to suit a specific person's preferences, whether aesthetic or tactile.

Yeah I think it is that way. Generalising, I think most buy competition shotguns for functionality to improve scores initially not prioritising timber into the price they're willing to pay .. but then gradually trade up until they're happy with a shotgun and start entertaining the idea of getting a custom stock done.

I'd probably even consider buying a nice blank stock if I came across a nice one .. or at least know what sort savings I'd need for something local ..

Just hope that the whole craft doesn't die out when it comes my turn

[bladeracer]

I have made my own stocks and pistol grips, for prototyping, not for aesthetics, and never "finished" to look nice. A pistol grip I made from pine is ingrained with dirt, oil, and other crud purely from handling, it's never been sanded or had any finish applied to it.

I do like designs like that butt stock that try to combine the feel and look of wood, while using other materials where mechanical precision is important. I wonder if anybody has ever made a wooden "stock" for something like a Styer F88 or one of the other "plastic fantastics"?

I can certainly appreciate the aesthetic of nice wood (I am a carpenter), and how militaries made wood work extremely well for centuries, but I'm not into aesthetics. I'm driven by performance of the machine, and if replacing the wood with something else improves the "machine" then that's the way to go, for me.

[No1_49er]

And here's another piece for you. Imagine the finished product. https://usedguns.com.au/gun/400532/

[rookie]

And here's another piece for you. Imagine the finished product. https://usedguns.com.au/gun/400532/

400532-001.jpg (28.16 KiB) Viewed 4171 times

Yeah - I fancy that burl

[LawrenceA]

Is performance everything? Ask the missus.

Life's too short to use ugly guns!

[bladeracer]

Is performance everything? Ask the missus.

Life's too short to use ugly guns!

Can't see them while I'm using them

[LawrenceA]

Is performance everything? Ask the missus.

Life's too short to use ugly guns!

Can't see them while I'm using them

True
So very true

But a thing of beauty is just that.

[No1_49er]

And here's another piece for you. Imagine the finished product. https://usedguns.com.au/gun/400532/

400532-001.jpg

Yeah - I fancy that burl

Vendor has advertised on "the other" site. Price reduced https://www.ozgunsales.com/listing/1009 ... blank.html