Walnut gunstocks are graded both for color and for figure in the wood. I think Blackdog99's gunstock has somewhat interesting color variation but I agree with him that it has no figure, at least that I see. But that doesn't mean it is not higher graded wood. Not everybody wants the same thing. AirNGasman's first stock looks like about 75% figure, possibly exhibition grade. A very high grade stock. You'd have to be very lucky to get a stock like that on any gun now. It would only happen if you paid a lot or if the supplier is not grading all the stocks, just buying wood and making them and what happens, happens.
I could be more possible in one way to get a highly figured stock these days since they are normally made by CNC machine. A router controlled by a computer. Traditional tools like planes struggle with figured wood and can tear it up. Router bits tear wood too but it is in a controlled manner than can be sanded out later.
I've made stocks for all three of my P35s (5 stocks for the 3 guns), my Prod and my Avenger. I just used scraps of wood from other projects. I may visit my furniture wood supplier and try and pick out a board for gunstocks. The guy I used to go to was closer but he was smart and planed and sorted the wood himself and charged a lot more for figured wood. The guy I've gone to more recently is about an hour's drive away. They sell rough sawn and unplanned wood and do not seem to understand about figure. Furniture makers do not really want it for many parts. So sometimes figured boards are hard for them to sell. For something like a bed rail you don't want a highly figured board because it is not as strong. It would be really bad for the back leg on a chair. So there is a chance if I spend the effort I might get something very worthwhile. Or I might come home with nothing to show for a 2 hour drive in the truck and half a tank of gas. The only way to for sure get a really nice gunstock blank is to pay a lot for it. I won't do that, I'm too cheap.
I could be more possible in one way to get a highly figured stock these days since they are normally made by CNC machine. A router controlled by a computer. Traditional tools like planes struggle with figured wood and can tear it up. Router bits tear wood too but it is in a controlled manner than can be sanded out later.
I've made stocks for all three of my P35s (5 stocks for the 3 guns), my Prod and my Avenger. I just used scraps of wood from other projects. I may visit my furniture wood supplier and try and pick out a board for gunstocks. The guy I used to go to was closer but he was smart and planed and sorted the wood himself and charged a lot more for figured wood. The guy I've gone to more recently is about an hour's drive away. They sell rough sawn and unplanned wood and do not seem to understand about figure. Furniture makers do not really want it for many parts. So sometimes figured boards are hard for them to sell. For something like a bed rail you don't want a highly figured board because it is not as strong. It would be really bad for the back leg on a chair. So there is a chance if I spend the effort I might get something very worthwhile. Or I might come home with nothing to show for a 2 hour drive in the truck and half a tank of gas. The only way to for sure get a really nice gunstock blank is to pay a lot for it. I won't do that, I'm too cheap.
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