I picked up an Interarms imported Whitworth Mark X in .458 WM a few months back. I've got a few questions with regard to the stock:


Any idea what this is and whether it would be a weak spot on the stock? I thought at first it was a repaired crack, but the way the grain follows the 'flaw' I don't believe that's the case. There's no corresponding oddity in the inletted portion of the stock.


There's a crack inside the inletted area. How should I repair it? Wood glue and put the stock in a padded vise until it's done?


BTW - The stock's been bedded, not by me, and I don't know if that was done before or after the crack appeared.


How should I care for the stock?

Any idea where I can find a replacement stock to play with?

Very nice Whitworth. The beauty mark behind the bolt is mothernature response to a natural growth condition and is figure in the wood....generally these are very sound. The stock has been bedded most likely after the cracking....the barrel channel behind the front barrel lug has had a piece of wood separate and it's been glued into position. The separation in the web indicates that there is contact in this area and should be slightly relieved. The stock should be rebedded and cross bolts added in two locations....in the web and behind the receiver lug. Stock should be taken to a competent person for repair.

Looks like were a limb grew from the trunk. While the core might pop out no major flaw in my opinion. YOu can use a cross bolt on the rear crack or normally I cut a groove across the crack use epoxy in the crack and glue a piece of threaded rod in the groove. I've had a 243 get a crack in that spot.

That looks like the standard factory glass bedding I've seen on many Whitworths. They do a minimalist job, but better than nothing. Someone may have boogered with it since it left the factory.

Bury a piece of steel or brass all-thread in the web crack between magazine well and trigger well. Fill and set it in with epoxy and cover it over. Brown epoxy would go nicely there.
That is a standard thing that must be done to all of them, or they will all develop such a crack.

Then redo the glass bedding. Hog it all out and fill the entire barrel channel with glass bedding, all the way back to the magazine well.
If that is another crack between the two recoil lugs, bury another piece of all-thread there too, and cover it with the epoxy/glass bedding.

Use the Mauser spacers that are in the stock to make pillars for the bedding job.

The stock will be better than ever it was from the factory.

Yes, that is just a grain "knot" on the stock, back of the bolt handle recess.

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it.