I know we have had forum threads to discuss this species, but I was unable to find one that looked at the merits of this species without harping on why English was so superior. I am sure a lot of people will be happy to post here again why I am crazy to go with black walnut, but I just cannot get excited about English. Sorry! I have been searching for nice American black walnut and have found that there is an amazing supply of very nice blanks available from a few dealers.

'Smiths, tell me why black walnut makes a good sotck and EVERYONE SHOW US YOUR PICTURES OF BLACK WALNUT YOU WERE IMPRESSED WITH OR PROUD OF.

Now this thread is about true American black walnut, not Californian, Northern Californian, or Southern Californian black (AKA Claro) walnut.

Have you seen this thread? Rusty's rifle They are very nice examples of black walnut stocks. Buy what you want. The only person that needs to be happy with the finished product is you.

Terry

hi: I have restored a lot of really old gun
stocks that had Black Walnut. As a typical
characteristic, I found that Black Walnut
when older or aged tended to have a brittle
surface...which became a pain, since it would
splinter off instead of just being able to
sand it down. For this reason of brittleness,
I don't care for black walnut. Other walnut
types don't seem to have this surface brittle
character. Anyway, that's what I noticed from
working on umpteen stocks.

Best Regards,

Tom

Sorry....no photos now as my photo equipment is on the fritz.....but I helped cut a entire grove of black walnut in southern Minnesota in 1957 and still use some blanks we had sawed from them.

Absolutely gorgeous wood.....pretty dense and strong enough for a DG rifle.

I've used bastogne, claro and black exclusively but do not share your lack of interest in english....that stuff can be stunning....it's just different.

It's a matter of personal taste.....and you get to suit yourself.....

I know that allot of people would prefer it to be otherwise, but California actually does reside in America!!

quote:

Originally posted by Rick 0311:
I know that allot of people would prefer it to be otherwise, but California actually does reside in America!!

At least until the San Andreas shakes it into the Pacific!

quote:

California actually does reside in America

Understood, but in Jepson "Higher Plants of California" there is a designation between the California, Northern California, and Southern California black walnut. In general we will say that hindsii is Claro, but in actuality it is unvarietal californica. Previous to widespread cultivation there were three forms of California walnut and they were from three distinct areas.

California black walnut (Juglans californica) Basically San Joaquin / Central Valley

Northern California black walnut (Juglans californica var. hindsii) wine region of California north into northern Coastal Range.

Southern California black walnut (Juglans californica var. californica) Monterey, San Louis O., Santa Barbara, etc.

The true name of black walnut in North America is American black walnut (Juglans nigra)and I hesitate to actually get into varieties or subspecies of this tree.

vapodog is right about that black walnut - i used a bunch of it for that same grove. in fact i still have a stock or 2 that i cut up out of those blanks

We had a master gunsmith who removed polyurethane finishes using Permatex Gasket Remover, then he processed the stocks sanding,sealing, recutting checkering and preserved all of the walnut stocks with a hand rubbed oil finish. We as customers learned to clean our stocks using Old English Furniture Polish to cover scratches and Trewax to protect them. http://www.trewax.com/home.html

The only bad thing i have to say about Black walnut (and Claro for that matter), is that it doesn;t seem to take as fine a checkering pattern as English will. Go too fine and it mushes down instead of cutting sharply.

Otherwise, I like it as a stock material and have used it on several customs.

I have three acres of land that was scheduled for planting with Douglas-fir, but I am now considering growing a plantation of walnut. Straight English will not work, nor is an English graft the best idea due to growth and bole development. Do any of you know what hybrid will work best for timber production?

Juglans x intermedia Carr. - J. nigra x J. regia (Broadview Black Walnut)

Juglans x paradox Burbank - J. hindsii x J. regia (Bastogne Walnut)

Juglans x royal Burbank - J. hindsii x J. nigra [Royal Black Walnut (Oregon Black Walnut)]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion...but I prefer Bastogne Walnut of any walnut types...its stronger, denser,etc. A book I have on gunstock woods says flatly its the best walnut for gunstocks. I have had the famed Circassian walnut, and to be sure its excellent...but I still prefer bastogne for its strength. You can also get nice figure in some.
Best Regards,
Tom

quote:

I prefer Bastogne Walnut of any walnut types

Only problem I see with Bastogne is that it keeps trying to fork down low and loves to grow out more than up in our area?