| Project by HalDougherty | posted 09-20-2012 03:43 PM | 9280 views | 6 times favorited | 21 comments |  |
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This stock was carved from the first walnut log I harvested and sawed with my new sawmill. It’s dried slowly so the wood is both dry and seasoned. Dried too quickly, the lumber will have internal stresses that are undesirable in a finished gunstock. I sawed this lumber 1” thick as slabs and each 3 slabs have enough crotch figure to make one outstanding stock. Stocks made from the rest of the log are beautiful, but they are not as spectacular. I will be able to get 4 or 5 stocks with crotch feather in the butt from this log. This is my third attempt to carve this stock for the customer. Beautiful figured wood is brittle and can split and the sliver is impossible to find in the bushels of shavings around my stock duplicator. The sharp corner behind the bolt flew off on the first attempt. I tried to patch another piece of wood, but it just didn’t look right. The next one I wasn’t thinking and I cut off the beavertail forend just in front of the action. It didn’t ahve the flowing lines the pattern had. So, I carved another one and this is it. I’m supposed to cut off the forend and attach a maple burl tip. But… After 2 failures, I am hesitant to cut up this beautiful stock. I’ve only started sanding… The curves of this stock make sanding with power tools an exercise in frustration.
-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com
21 comments so far
HillbillyShooter
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5811 posts in 2624 days
#1 posted 09-20-2012 03:58 PM
Now that is one fine stock with truly outstanding crotch feathering—just almost too beautiful for a Remington 700 and needs to be on a really fine shotgun (not that I have anything against Remington 700 since I own four and love them), just that I appreciate a stock like that a whole lot more on a fine trap or skeet gun. Thanks for sharing.
-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington
Monte Pittman
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#2 posted 09-20-2012 06:15 PM
That’s really impressive
-- Nature created it, I just assemble it.
bowtie
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#3 posted 09-20-2012 06:18 PM
beautiful work!
-- bowtie,.....jus passin thru....
grfrazee
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#4 posted 09-20-2012 06:34 PM
Definitely one of the best I’ve seen of yours. Great job!
-- -=Pride is not a sin=-
Joe Lyddon
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10526 posts in 4384 days
#5 posted 09-20-2012 06:44 PM
Good idea… that ‘thumb’ hole… more comfy that way… LOL
Beautiful work as usual!
Thank you.
-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"
Don W
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19141 posts in 2899 days
#6 posted 09-20-2012 08:19 PM
I always leave these projects alerts in my inbox until I have time to look. They are always worth the while. That’s an amazing looking stock. I kind of agree, I don’t think it needs a maple forend. Why fool with perfection?
-- http://timetestedtools.net - Collecting is an investment in the past, and the future.
StephenSchaad
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201 posts in 2510 days
#7 posted 09-20-2012 08:58 PM
Wow… I don’t think I’d have the patience to carve a stock like this.. haha nice work!
luv2learn
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#8 posted 09-20-2012 09:12 PM
Great work Hal, your customer can be proud of that stock for sure.
-- Lee - Northern idaho~"If the women don't find you handsome, at least they ought to find you handy"~ Red Green
jaykaypur
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4017 posts in 2740 days
#9 posted 09-20-2012 10:24 PM
A real beauty. The walnut grain is stunning.
-- Use it up, Wear it out --------------- Make it do, Or do without!
Roger
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20993 posts in 3135 days
#10 posted 09-20-2012 11:30 PM
Ohyesssss…....
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
NikonF100
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49 posts in 3518 days
#11 posted 09-21-2012 01:44 AM
Hal, I BET , the person that’s getting that stock , won’t mind at all if it don’t have a burl maple tip. They may like that Burl Maple Tip on another gun stock , like maybe the Ruger Model 77 MK II , 6.5×55 , they plan on getting in a couple of weeks. BUT that is BEAUTIFULL , and sure , they’ll be proud to show that off . All I can say is WOW !!!!!!
horsefly
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35 posts in 3126 days
#12 posted 09-21-2012 12:03 PM
Looks great, hard to beat beautiful wood. One concern, looks to me like there are finger groves where
a palm swell should be but maybe I’m missing something. Anyway, BEAUTIFUL.
-- Bob, Maine"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not". Thomas Jefferson
Jim Jakosh
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22345 posts in 3437 days
#13 posted 09-21-2012 06:31 PM
Sweet stock, Hal!!
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
NikonF100
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49 posts in 3518 days
#14 posted 09-23-2012 12:11 AM
I’ve shown this site to several people and they’re envious of this stock and whoever is getting it. General concenus is THAT IS SHARP !!!
Skelatile
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70 posts in 3128 days
#15 posted 09-24-2012 01:37 AM
I love your work! Great job! My 700 has a nice walnut stock but no where near as beautiful as that one!
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