Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Making a gun stock

ibffsteve
I need a winter project be keep me occupied over the winter months.
I got an old SXS 12 ga that needs new wood but its not a gun thats worth getting a custom stock made.
My question is what is a good wood to use. I looking at maybe curly maple, or black walnut right now, but if i can find a piece of exotic wood thats not to expensive what would be a good wood?

lic_plate.bmp
0

Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • Der Gebirgsjager
    [:D]My very best advice upfront. Get a Boyd's Gunstock catalog, and see if you can't, either by looking at the catalog or phoning them, identify your shotgun and find something partially completed that they make or will make. Because, if you have never made a SxS shotgun stock before you are undertaking a big job, especially if it is a sidelock; and even a boxlock isn't a picnic. Boyd's stocks are relatively inexpensive, and you'll experience a whole lot less labor and anxiety. That having been said, Walnut is the queen of gunstock woods. Pretty, easier to work than maple. Go walnut.[:D]
    0
  • ibffsteve
    It is a Western arms made by Ithica. I searched the net but as of yet I haven't found anything that matches.

    lic_plate.bmp
    0
  • TRAP55
    Steve, DG gave you the best way to go, Boyds can copy your existing wood and even hand fit it to your action. Some dang nice people there too! Give them a call and they should be able to quote you a price on the phone. www.boydboys.com

    "Aim small...Miss small"
    0
  • nononsense
    Steve,

    I would suggest starting at the beginning; buy a good, descriptive book or three on stockmaking. The one by Monty Kennedy is pretty good as is the more expensive Westbrook:

    http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.gunsmith-wood-work.html

    If you have the original stock and forearm, they can serve as the patterns to get a new rough carved set made by one of several stockmakers with duplicators. This is not too expensive as long as you keep the grade of wood at the lower end. It will also save you days or weeks of fooling around trying to get this possibly very complex inletting done by hand when you don't have the experience. Be aware that not all carvers will do two piece stock duplication. Here are a couple that will:

    http://www.wenig.com/w_s_p.html

    http://www.tanyardspringsgunshop.com/semi-inletstocks.html

    If you decide to continue with this project, you'll need to get some basic tools to work your semi-inlet stock and forearm. A selection of tools is available from Brownells:

    http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Store/AdvancedSearch.aspx

    Stockmaking can be fun and relaxing but it can also get to be frustrating in its complexities. Go slow and do lots of reading and talking to stockmakers if you can. An old concept goes just as importantly here; you can't put back what you just removed. Make sure that your tools are sharp.

    Best of luck!
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity