I have decided that I am going to learn how to make gunstocks. I did, during my high school and college years, work as a fine carpenter/woodworker/cabinetmaker and was quite satisfied with it. In fact sometimes I would rather go back to that profession and quite my day job. I know that doesn't mean JS for making a stock, but I do have a good handle on woodworking fundamentals. Especially as I did much custom work with Walnut, cherry, mahogany and other various hardwoods and exotics.

My question to those who have experience with this art is what tools are essential and what tools are nice to have. I know checkering tools are a given. And I already have a nice set of Scheffield chisels( straight, skew point, swan neck, corner mortise...), rasps, spokeshaves... I think that some gouges would be required and maybe some specialized scrapers, but am not quite sure.
Oh, and don't worry, I won't "cut" a $2K blank until I have very honed skills.

Pick up all the old pawn shop screw drivers made of good old steel..heat them up and bend the points down abour a half inch, shape as needed and sharpen, I probably have 200 plus of these; make some one sided scrapers from good steel of various shapes and sizes....A #52 or 53 cabinet rasp and get after it. A good pocket knife with a sharp short blade is a must for inletting...

All that stuff in Brownells is neat, but seldom is of much use, or works as well as the above..I do have a lot of the Brownells cheap scrapers...

Mostly all one needs is skill and patience. A 10 year old can shape and inlet, with just a little instruction...Few can finish wood, many think they can. I get a kick out of the magic surrounding inletting, it's so bloody simple.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Mr. Atkinson,
Thank you for your advice.

Perusing my Brownells catalogue I see there are various books dedicated to stockmaking. Specifically I have had others speak highly of the book by Monte Kennedy. While I do learn exceedingly well if left to myself I will always take a little direction. Providing it is the right direction. Is the aforementioned book by Kennedy a valuable resource?
Although I have a few tools from Brownells, I found that many of the non industry purveyors of quality tools are better. I can and have as you suggest make/modify my own tools. That way they do exactly as I want...
Anyway, not to ramble. Concerning rasps. I have at least a half dozen of these and they blow any other rasp I have tried away. You may find them interesting.
http://www.garrettwade.com/jump.jsp?lGen=detail&itemID=105328&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=10000&iSubCat=10025&iProductID=105328

Again, I thank you

David,
I like using carving gouges for inletting the barrel channel, about a #9 sweep. The nicest rasps I have ever used are the Nicholson #49 (medium) and #50 (fine).
"Professional Stockmaking" by David Wesbrook is an exellent book on the subject.
Good luck with your projects !