Oak Stocks

Junkballer

February 20, 2012 06:52

Why are gun stocks not made with oak wood, is there a reason its a hard wood and it has pretty grains, plentiful and looks better than birch ? Maybe they do but I've never seen one that I can remember. [:)]

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  Hangfire

  February 20, 2012 07:13

  I think the main drawback is the high content of Tannic acid in oak.. When Oak and iron/steel are in contact when moisture is present, you'll see dis-coloration/staining.. I've seen older European guns stocked with the tight-grained English oak, and the wood/metal contact areas are stained black.. This is most noticeable around the tangs, barrel bands, swivels, etc..

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  Hawkshaw

  February 20, 2012 07:16

  Hi JUNK____ I think physical weight is another issue. In my experienc, they compare to LAM stocks, or more. HAWKSHAW

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  goodgunparts

  February 20, 2012 07:41

  I think it has been used to a limited amount. Have one of the lever action single shot Ithica shotguns and I am sure it is oak. Looks odd as blond wood is not what we think of as traditional.

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  Ned Fall

  February 20, 2012 07:49

  Oak is heavy and hard to work.

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  jptatum

  February 20, 2012 11:10

  I think the real problem is oak does not have a straight grain. A gun stock requires a lot of machining. However I dont see why you could not make a laminated stock from oak. Walnut is harder and stronger than oak but it has a straight grain.

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  wpage

  February 20, 2012 11:24

  Oak does not hold up and is hard to mill.

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  deerhide

  February 20, 2012 20:10

  jptatum
  oak is harder than walnut and definitely stronger.

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  deerhide

  February 20, 2012 20:13

  elm makes a very light in weight substitute for oak, maybe the Ithica was elm.

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  bartman45

  February 21, 2012 01:55

  quote:Originally posted by wpage
  Oak does not hold up and is hard to mill.
  
  
  YIKES! I'd better start looking for a replacement for my 50 year old oak floor...........[^]

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  GuvamintCheese

  February 21, 2012 02:19

  Oak splits awful easy.

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  bpost

  February 21, 2012 04:10

  quote:Originally posted by goodgunparts
  I think it has been used to a limited amount. Have one of the lever action single shot Ithica shotguns and I am sure it is oak. Looks odd as blond wood is not what we think of as traditional.
  
  
  I have seen the same pattern, it can fool you, it is Beech wood. I have dining room chairs made from beech nobody knows they are not oak.

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  Junkballer

  February 21, 2012 04:23

  quote:Originally posted by deerhide
  jptatum
  oak is harder than walnut and definitely stronger.
  This is what I was thinking and I've never heard of the splitting problem with oak either or milling problem with oak (I'm retired from the lumber business), lots of old oak floors and furniture around taking more abuse than firearm stocks ever will. [:)] I know there's plenty of choices out there but I'm still curious because its beautiful when finished and take abuse well.

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