I havent check this thread in a while, its really funny to read, you guys are killing me

quote:

Originally posted by Thumpper470:
Current tax laws benefit those who replant often. Therefore, the days of American English for gunstocks are numbered.

OK. I will finish building the custom guns I need during the next 30-40 years before we run out.

I have seen marvelous dark stocks come out of Bald Knob, Arkansas. Fabulous material to stock a rifle with. I think they call them Choate stocks. A little hard to inlet, though.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:

quote:

Originally posted by Thumpper470:
Current tax laws benefit those who replant often. Therefore, the days of American English for gunstocks are numbered.

OK. I will finish building the custom guns I need during the next 30-40 years before we run out.

What a downer , finding out that about the time I turn 100 I may have to give up building custom grips/stocks. Lawdog

Love this thread....just wonderful reading.

I think the Turkish walnut is the best to look at for the marble-cake and color contrast, but in my novice experience I have found the Juglans regia [always use small case for specifics] from Australia, and my new personal love, from New Zealand is the best. Great figure, density, and overall color. Cheap too!

safari1976,
Thanks. You are correct and obviously you know your wood very well indeed. Those blanks you posted came from the region where the wood has been historically known as "circassian".

At Luxus Walnut we do in fact have wood from many different locations/regions. The reality is that we can often tell where a blank came from based on the colors figure and quality of the wood. However, that is not always 100%, but it gets pretty close. For instance we have had wood from perhaps 7-10 different regions. I know what wood from certain regions looks like and when we have the opportunity to buy trees from there, we do because we know what to expect from there.
The wood that came from that region where these two blanks came from is often remarkable in quality, very hard wood with great figure that is often very unique. It typically has a wonderful red tones with great fiddle.
If you get on our website you will see more blanks from there. They will have the stock numbers starting with "TR" and some ZR's as well.
In fact i kept one back for a rifle i am presently building myself.


333_OKH,
I just got back from NZ in April. I have cut and turned blanks from NZ. Some of it is nice. But the figure is not always there. The trees can be young.
The trees we cut in eastern Europe and the Turkey areas are very often well over 300 years old and can be over 500 years old. As a result the figure is very complex and the density of the wood can be fantastic.

In addition, we sell A LOT of wood to NZ. Even shipping our wood to NZ you can not beat the prices we have. Many guys there buy a rather large amount. They often buy in "lots" for an even better price.

333_OKH,
You made a comment that i see a lot of guys making and similar comments.
Density,
Let me say something about that. There are regions that are known for having dense wood. But it is never 100% true. Punky wood can come from areas known for great wood and great wood can come from areas where poor wood is known to come from. A small mountain range or a difference in elevation and amount of water at the root level can greatly effect this.
I say this because guys say things about wood and regions as if it were absolutes. NEVER is it that simple.
There are so many variables that effect the quality of the wood and the region where it is grown does not seem to be as important as the age the species, soil, weather patterns and even which side of the mountain it is growing on.

quote:

Originally posted by ArthurOlds:
Why, oh why must we persist with the argumentation! Good wood is good wood...that is, hard, tight grained, properly laid out, dry...and any figure, watermarking, etc., only adds good points (and money). Missing any of what makes wood "good" for gunstocks, it makes little differece the origin. "Good" black walnut is like "good" English, Bastogne, Turkish, Russian, Morrocan, or any other "place" walnut...and good wood is where you find it and what you are willing to pay for it...and I love good wood! Moreover, I am beginning to think Allen has the correct view here...McMillian has some of the very best! (Apologies to Ray and others...and I still covet a nice piece of real walnut)...All of the fine gunmakers mentioned know good wood when they work with it and I would imagine they reject bad wood (and rarely make THAT decision based on country of origin). That is what Ray ment...they pick, use and sell only what THEY consider to be the best, and please note that THE BEST has no country of origin stamp...why else would Chic (and others) spend the time to go through an entire truck load of wood from Presliks to find what THEY are looking for...It is not a decision made on the information of others. I will not choose a piece unless I LIKE IT (and unfortunately can afford it...not likely!). Good is good, bad is bad...let each choose based on HIS standards, wants and needs and most certainly on the intended use...We need all the information we can get to make good choices here, but aguements do not help...Please! Arthur Olds

ArthurOlds,
You are so right. Good wood is Good wood and to each his own. What one guy hates another guy loves. And if the guy that has it on his gun likes it that is ALL that matters.

here are a couple more blanks from the region where circassian came from.
first blank went to Al Lind for a good customer
who lives in NZ.
The second third and fourth photo is the blank i am using on my 416 taylor.








NOTICE this blank has virtually NO pores. Fantastic blank.

AFreeman---Very nice wood without a doudt. I collect wood for other projects and it seems that one collection should be samples of Juglans regia from the different parts of the world. I talked to a gunsmith recently that said he would not use anything on a caliber above .30 that was not from South Africa. I found that odd, and very very expensive.

Hello,
I don't know if the wood on my Rugers are circassian or not, factory says it is?? Grain on my stocks is very close and seems a bit on the hard side surface wise and can say the checkering is about as sharp as any I have seen for a non custom firearm. As far as the really first cabin stuff, my travels over the years around this earth led me to believe that the boys from Italy and London and yes, even some in Germany get the really good stuff and the rest gets what is not taken by these 2-500 year old gun shops. Berreta, Holland & Holland, Perazzi, Boss, Purdey, Spanish, AYA, etc.

333_OKH
Thanks. I dom't know about SA wood but would say once again, it is a shame to limit ones self to any one region. A blank should be taken on its properties, not where it came from. Case by Case my friend.

driver
Everyone buys from us.
And we do get the best wood. Even Darwin Hensley acknowledged that when he stated that...."this is the best wood I have seen in 15 years and it makes me want to come out of retirement."---Thats a quote.

However, they all buy from where ever they can get the wood they like. English makers like a certain grainflow, Italians are similar in tastes to us in the States.

I know where the wood on your Rugers originated from.
Most of that wood is very hard and good for what Ruger is using it for. Not high grade with regards to color and figure, but certainly nice wood and well suited for its roll.

Well this is my first post. I have owned a lot of walnut, 1000s of blanks . I was at the ACGG last year as a member with wood for sale. I had no complaints but did have a lot of happy cusomers buying blanks for less than a third of the price stated here in the forums.
As a gun collector i did get tired of buying junk wood for big bucks. The Turks do abuse the wood by steaming and boiling it. We are cutting our own wood in Turkey and neighboring countries. our wood is not steamed , boiled etc . Its air dried the method prefered by most stock makers. Thats why some of our blanks are sold not fully dry , they are still drying. Thats also why our blanks have lots of mineral lines /streaking and figure. Im inviting you to visit our web site and see for yourself. Go to www.luxuswalnut.com and let me know what you think. Please visit the gun projects and Hunting photos. like you we are hunters and love nice guns.

DC Barker

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Good Circasian walnut is pretty hard to beat, but I have seen the term used pretty loosely over the years...but hey its still wood and never has been as hard as steel...you whack them hard enough and the scratch, dent or gouge depending on the whack...so will a composit stock, or a laminate btw...

Ray, what did you finally settle on for a load on your 10.75x68? I am shooting the 340gr NF sp at about 2500 f/s. Very accurate rifle if I do my part. I really want to put a scope on it to make it more versitile.

quote:

Originally posted by lb404:

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Good Circasian walnut is pretty hard to beat, but I have seen the term used pretty loosely over the years...but hey its still wood and never has been as hard as steel...you whack them hard enough and the scratch, dent or gouge depending on the whack...so will a composit stock, or a laminate btw...

Ray, what did you finally settle on for a load on your 10.75x68? I am shooting the 340gr NF sp at about 2500 f/s. Very accurate rifle if I do my part. I really want to put a scope on it to make it more versitile.

You might want to call or email him -- he has not posted in a while and no I do not want to start that discussion again!

Who drags up these old posts?
I thought Ray was back, and was about to say hullo.

Hello

This is a very interesting thread! This is a picture of my 375H&H. It is suppose to be Circasian. What is it really?

quote:

Who drags up these old posts?

People from Luxus are bringing very old threads back to the top that talk either about their company/products or threads about wood for gun stocks.

If you look a lot of the forums on AR, you will see that there are A LOT of old posts brought back to the top by these guys.

looks like circassian/turkish to me . A nice piece also.

LUX

Thank you LUX!

Mark

577NE,
Two posts have come back up from what i see. Both were done by safari1976. I do not know him from you.
And just the same as if you would ask a question or make a comment i would respond.

thats all.

It is just interesting that the same person, in each of his threads so far (only four, I believe) lists Luxus' website or talks about Luxus products.

And to bring two threads back to the top with no realy purpose other to post a photo of a wood blank in a very old thread within a day of each other seems a bit strange unless some other motive is involved.

Just my $.02.

Hello Coloradoyaler,
Nice looking stock on that Ruger. Some years ago, bought one of the very first ones out and it had a knock out piece of wood on it, tiger striped from end to end and near blond in some areas and then a dark red/brown in others. It was 375HH but of the original spring powered ejector model and local fellow wanted it so bad that he paid me a premium for it. I have one now and stock is nice but not as nice as the one you show.
Anxiously awaiting my second one in 458 Lott and when I get them together will see if I can post some photos of the two in comparison. I notice where some do not like the rifle or the stocks, but I have found no fault in mine for the money invested. Notice several purchase the CZ rifles and then proceed to spend a great deal more on them to get them where the Ruger is to start with and at less money???? To each his own.

PS Not sure just how popular these Ruger Magnums are these days, but we should ban together and form a separate group/topic/etc. for them and "cuss and discuss..." the owner benefits, features, experiences, hunts, loads, issues, etc. with these fine pieces of American Big Bore Rifles. Perhaps there is a spot for such things already in place??

I rather enjoyed reading this and now know more than I did about this subject. Thanks to all for comments and pictures. If I had wood like this I would show it to people who can appreciate it and talk about the subject.
Glenn