I was going through some DGJ back issues (Unusual amount of snow here in the Pacific Northwest and too damn cold to work on knives in the garage!) and saw an article where the author showed the blanks and finished stocks on a pair of custom O/U's. I thought the blanks and finished product were extremely gaudy because of the amount of figure. So, in your opinion, is it possible to have too much figure?

Lee

It depends. I like marble, subtle horizontal stripes (zebrawood is too wild) and subtle tiger stripe figure. Crotch figure turns me off especially since it's usually just in the butt of the stock and aggressive tiger stripe .

It's all a matter of taste. I think burl is too much figure on a stock. My preference is a rich caramel color with contrasting long dark lines.

Some of the Turkish that is coming in is so wild that you cannot really appreciate the metalwork! It kind of reminds me of the saying that a picture frame is supposed to draw your eye to the painting, not detract from it. I think there is a fine balance between complimentary and over the top in regards to color,figure and grain structure for the stock, more is not always better. Just my .02.

Yes I tbink you can have too much.

I like a stock with full fiddleback (tiger stripes) . I don't like burl wood like high end shotguns have, looks like a failure waiting to happen.

I like my stocks like my women.
If they have good figure I don't care what color they are.

M

quote:

Originally posted by Grenadier:
My preference is a rich caramel color with contrasting long dark lines.

+1

Not only the looks but you have to think about strength also--grain makes a difference.

some folks take those stocks that have to much fiddle back or exotic grain in stock gun stocks in the wrist. They make a hickory insert and borrow out the thru bolt hold and insert the plug the rear tangs but against the insert and takes stress off the wrist of the stock.

Yes, a blank can have too much. A lot of the worst offenders have poor layout to boot. With that said, I seen a lot of rifles with a LOT of figure and good layout that are simply stunning.

Not if the owner likes it; then it is the right amount. As long as the wrist is sound.
Consider that there are several different types of "figure", each depending on the
wood species, and other factors. The burl we see in Black and Turkish, can be somewhat
wild, and is subject to cracking, but again, if you like it, go for it. The Curl, or Tiger stripes of some walnut and maple, does not affect strength, and you can't get too much of that. Claro can exhibit all kinds of color and figure. English (any thin shell walnut) can have those honey and black mineral streaks that everyone likes. Remember, wood is a living material and no two pieces are the same. I have a piece that exhibits all of the above; curl;, burl, and mineral streaks all in the same stock. Pictures next week.
Enjoy it all. Even the plain stuff.

All "eye of the beer-holder" so long as the grain-flow provides for sound layout.

I want a stock that straight thru the grip and forend..I like contrasting stripes and color, that run from toe to grip and down the forend with a tad of upward direction, in other words a properly laid out blank..

Marble cake in the butt section is fine if it doesn't interfere with the grip and forend area..

I like dark Turkish or Russian walnut, the blacker the better on my guns, and my personal guns lean towards being plain but not without contrasting grain and color, rather than marble cake, but that's just me as I see function over beauty..I would however build one like a customer wanted up to a point...To much marble cake, especially in the forend or grip lends itself to chipping, twisting, moving etc, IMO or at least the possibility is certainly there.

A stock can be beautiful without marble cake to some of us, to others is all about color and marble cake..to each his own, that's what makes a horse race.