hey guys, haven't actually seen it yet but a friend of mine called and he has some walnut he salvaged that had been used for a shipping bulkhead. he says the boards are about 2" by 6" (true size, not commercial 1.5x5.5) and about 6 feet long. I don't know if that is big enough for a stock but might be something to play with.

My questions are:
1. How can I figure out WHAT type of walnut it is (claro, california etc.)
2. what dimensions does it need to be to make a gunstock?

If it will work and is hard even without figure or something might be something good to play with, shaping and checkering. He's coming by tomorrow night.

Red

Red,
I would snatch it up, but I doubt it's walnut.. though it certainly could be. Would work for patterns, practice, and perhaps even a trim, petitte stock. I woudl think that if it is walnut, or anything other hardwood, that was used in a shipping bulkhead that it will be WET.

Mike Kokolus says on his website

quote:

When a customer sends us their wood, we will need it at least 1/4 inch over the size of the pattern stock.

jeffe

I'm not a stockmaker, but something I'll be doing on my next stock is adding on a contrasting wood where there isn't enough material in the blank. IE use some Agraglas to bond a piece of rosewood (or what ever you like) in the area where the cheekpiece will end up.
In my case, I want a 3" wide, flat, forend w/ rosewood cap. I'll laminate 3pcs of 1 1/2" square rosewood to the bottom and 2 to the end so that they will be machined in place right along with the remainder of the stock (I "acquired" about 20 pcs 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x36 long from a former employer)

The dimensions are very tight. It may not work. The usual rifle stock blank is about 35"x7"x2.5" A mannlicher is about 46"x8"x2.5" A sxs shotgun is about 20"x7"x2.5" These are not absolute. It can vary. There is a lot of waste in those dimensions, but that is allow the carver to select the best grain for the wrist. Also to allow for any surface defects, checks, etc.

If nothing else, you can make stocks for ruger 10/22's all day long with those dimensions.

If this walnut has come in contact with salt water... well, it may not be of any use. I believe Browning had an issue some years ago with some walnut that had been exposed to salt water. The salt exposed wood quickly destroyed any metal it was in contact with.

At the price of walnut, I would take as much as he would offer. Regardless of whether it would make a good gunstock.

You can always find some one who would buy it. Check ebay for the all the various walnut scraps being sold.

As for telling which type, I would have no clue.

quote:

My questions are:
1. How can I figure out WHAT type of walnut it is (claro, california etc.) weight is the only clue I can think of
2. what dimensions does it need to be to make a gunstock? The 2" X 6" will do but barely

If it will work and is hard even without figure or something might be something good to play with, shaping and checkering. He's coming by tomorrow night.

Red

Go look here....this is the best and least cost way to experiment and learn checkering etc...
Walnut stock

I have three walnut blanks out for turnming now and they're costing me $140 each....but thy're figured wood and worth it to me.

I'll definitely take the wood. if it is any good for the purpose then I will use it to practice with the tools involved. learn to shape a stock from a blank that type of thing. I have some small bores that could handle a slender stock no trouble and can probably make it fit on those, if it is really 2" thick.

Otherwise, if the wood is good but not suitable for gun work, anybody know if walnut is good for cutting boards?

Red

quote:

anybody know if walnut is good for cutting boards?

It's too porous...Maple is the stuff for that IMO

Vapodog is correct. A lot of walnut have an open grain. But you can use a wood filler to handle that.

Dago, not good for cutting boards, but real good for cutting tools--I've used the drop from a few of my stock blanks for knife handles--sweet!!!!

I've always thought a neat option for a custom maker of wood stocked rifles, would be for him to offer a knife made with drop from the stock used for each specific rifle......

Good Luck--Don

I got it, seems really dry, can't see why they would use this to hold loads in place in a trailer. some splits from the nails, not quite 2" and not quite 6". some of it has all right figure, might work for a 22 stock. the old Ithaca 49 that I am working on right now might be something fun to restock, the wood on it now is crap.

thanks everyone for your information.

Red

If it is eastern black walnut it is also toxic. Some people can have reactions to it. So it is really not a good idea as a cutting board.

Do any of you have an e-mail address for Michael M. Kokolus ???