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Since I have started several custom rifle projects I have been shopping for blanks. I came across one turkish blank that is a very dark reddish brown black. Since receiving it the blank has come to be my favorite. Now I notice that it seems to be a uncommon color in a blank. Though I have seen many gunstocks with this dark reddish hue. Are these stocks tinted when finished? Or am I wrong that this color is pretty common. Here's a pic of the blank. I enhanced the pic a little as it is really dark.  This pic is not enhanced.  "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | ||
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I don't think I'ever seen a piece of unstained walunt, let alone a walnut gunstock blank, that dark. Are you sure it is, in fact, walnut? | |||
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Hello I purchased the blank from a company that specialises in turkish and Circassian walnut. The blank looks to have a sealer on it. It is very dark, when I first looked at it I was surprised myself. I haved searched and looked at many pics of blanks but none has the deep rich color of this one. Like I said I have seen a few old rifles that have a similar look but I think that was english or french walnut but maybe stained for the dark red look. I'm just not knowelgable enough to know about this color or species of walnut blank. "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | |||
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Haven't seen one that dark though I'm not an expert in it. Much of color of wood is due to minerals in the soil. Wood also darkens on exposure to light. | |||
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The scene is lying to the meter in your camera: all that white background, and the burnt out reflection of your flash make your camera think it's exposing enough, while in reality the blank is underexposed. Looks like a blank from Chiron. Murat has a few this dark. If you'd been to Reno, you would have seen that there is a color and tone preferred by most Guild members. Which isn't to say there's no room for a nice dark stock in this world. Good luck with it. flaco | |||
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Should make a great stock. If you like it, that's all that matters. You might hit it lightly with a sander and see if the sealer has darkened it up some, which I suspect is the case since the sapwood looks pretty dark too in your photos. xxxxxxxxxx When considering US based operations of guides/outfitters, check and see if they are NRA members. If not, why support someone who doesn't support us? Consider spending your money elsewhere. NEVER, EVER book a hunt with BLAIR WORLDWIDE HUNTING or JEFF BLAIR. I have come to understand that in hunting, the goal is not the goal but the process. | |||
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I would work on that one.  Looks nice to me. Take a picture of it outside. I dont think staining that stock is needed and even if you did stain it, I suspect you couldnt tell. | |||
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flaco I did purchase this blank from Murat. I have another that is lighter probably more in line with the norm. Hi Bill, Just getting all my ducks in a row here. Glad you like the piece. BTW congrats on being a new guild member,great news. "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | |||
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I would place the blank at an angle without the white back ground out side ? take a closer picture for possibly a better grain detail . From what I see it's real dark depending on what type of sealer was used might be part of what were seeing ?. The chair back reflecting a high gloss finish isn't helping the blank detail either . Either way what's important is " DO YOU LIKE IT " ?. Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...  | |||
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Yes I like it. I am having two rifles built. I like the dark blank and was looking for a matching piece of wood but seems to be uncommon. I guess it could be stained darker. This was the reason for the post. The blank has some very nice mineral lines running from the heel to toe on both sides. "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | |||
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Not setting myself up as an authority on the subject but my father, (Darwin Hensley) as well as myself, like the darker wood. It is not all that uncommon to see a blank a bit darker or lighter than the finished stock will be depending on what sealer they have used. Rougher sanding (like on a blank) leaves more end grain which soaks up more finish/sealer and makes a piece look darker. Even without stain, you can make a blank darker or lighter based on which clear finish you choose to use. It can also be lightened up a bit by using a sealer before you sand in your finish. From what I've seen, a teak oil hand rubbed finish winds up making the wood look a bit darker than one finished with tung oil or many of the other oils and definitely darker than the urethane finished ones. I have picked up a number of really nice darker Turkish walnut stocks from my friends over at Luxus walnut. The really dark ones are not common but are available. Talk to Clay or Adam over there and let them know what you are looking to match. They have several shipping container loads of wood that they have imported from Turkey. Luxus Walnut If you do talk to them tell them hello from Trez. I've made/am making a few rifles for Clay. He's a first rate guy, they both are. | |||
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+1 on Luxus! Good people over there. Terry -------------------------------------------- Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? | |||
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I love IT!!!!  ________ Ray | |||
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I like dark blanks if the dark is black against rich browns or straw colors. Some just look muddy to me otherwise. I never got the hang of working with stains on guns so I just avoid it. ______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else. | |||
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I really like the darker stock you have and i have noticed that there is more on there web here lately. You can tell when they seem to have cut up another tree because the stocks seem to change.  Here are a couple of mine and the stocks are acutally darker than what the picture apears to show. They are actually very close to being honey colored with black mineral streaking.I find it hard to get the actual color of a stock on film as it really is, but then it just might be my camera also._____________________ Steve Traxson | |||
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Trez thanks for the info. Ray glad you like it. Srt those are some great looking blanks. "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | |||
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I don't know how common or uncommon it is, but I have a blank of Turkish that I got from Luxus that is about the same color. One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. - Groucho Marx | |||
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to get the correct color, shoot against a medium gray background. never against white. | |||
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The blank on the left gives me a chubby  Love the color. Terry -------------------------------------------- Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? | |||
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I also bought a blank recently from Chiron. I think the finish they use may be a amber colored spar varnish. Don't get me wrong I love the blank, q-sawn and not overly fancy is my cup of tea but I think it'll finish a bit lighter.  ______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else. | |||
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Just for comparison I found Murat's photo of the blank I posted above.  "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | |||
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I like that one. ______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else. | |||
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TC1: It gives me a chubby also! I like it better also and it was $100. cheaper than the other. I like the black mineral streaking through the blank, and from the top side it is loaded with little black lines. The other blank is a little more orangish  Dempsey: Nice blank, and i think your right on the amber color. I took a palm sander to the top and bottom and for schitzs and grins put a light finish on an area and tho only one coat it did finish a little lighter. Nice blank figure in the butt and straight forward. FAST996: Nice figure, like the way it runs through the toe the way it does and same through the forend - will look great! _____________________ Steve Traxson | |||
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how common? in aboluste terms, nearly every commerical stock is stained/color enhanced .. remington, wincheser, ruger savage, browning, cz .. they all want a product to look close to the same... nearly every military stock has been stained.. I realize that wasn't the intent of your question.... Now, on custom rifles, the english certainly "enhanced" the color of their stocks, frequently. that "english" or winchester red just doesn't occur in walnut alot.. on the blanks in question, i've bot quite a few of murat's blanks.. i have avoided any that looked light in color, and have only had one that was DARK when finished... my preference is lower mineral, tight grain, and reddish jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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Sure looks DARK in your photos. VERY DARK! Never seen a blank that dark. Even if you don't stain a stock when finishing it, it will usually end up a couple of shades darker than when it was unfinished. The only wood I regularly stain is maple, when using it for a muzzleloader. I don't use maple on modern rifles. IF one uses a light-colored wood for modern arms, it looks "cheap" unless it is darkened some. But that blank you have appears so dark, I would not consider staining it darker! On that second picture you posted, that blank looks a lot nicer. It will no doubt make into a very lovely stock, but again, I would finish it w/o any staining! "Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen." | |||
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I have recently looked at pictures of english rifles and I do favor that "english red" you mention. It's that dried blood color that surprised me when I got this particular blank in hand. I think if my stockmaker reccomended staining this blank I'd find another maker lol. "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | |||
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I found another dark reddish brown blank. This one has alot more figure and some fiddleback. I have seen most DGR's with straight grain and not much marble cake. This blank has straight grain on the wrist. Should I pass or take it? Roger  "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | |||
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I'd have a couple of issues with that blank. There seems to be a lot going on in the grip area of that blank - especially on the left hand side. The other issue is that the grain takes a dive in the forearm area. If you're going to use a short forearm and an ebony tip, it might not be an issue. The best thing you can do is to ask your stockmaker's opinion. Also, be sure you get a guarantee from the seller. ______________________________ "Truth is the daughter of time." Francis Bacon | |||
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Yep, a blank can have too much figure. I would have never thought it possible until I built a stock with such a blank. I had to stain the stock to tone the figure down a little. I like the color of that blank but wouldn't use it because of the layout. I'm with Forrest, what's going on in the grip area ain't quite right. Also keep in mind digital cameras in general love red and that picture has been photoshopped. I doubt it'll be that red in person. The one below needed a light switch on it before I put the stain to it. That english red stain calms the figure down just enough. Terry  Terry -------------------------------------------- Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? | |||
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Ok,the feedback is kinda dissappointing because I really like the blank,especially the right side.Question given the defect of the wrist area. What are the odds of a failure? Or is it just aesthetics. "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | |||
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the branch knot in the wrist is bad news opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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For what it's worth, I remember a conversation I had with Ernie Paulsen many years ago and he said some of the walnut he was importing from New Zealand were so heavily marked with mineral streaks that they appeared almost black with just a hint of "normal" walnut color. The blank you posted pictures of is probably one like he described, although not New Zealand walnut. Just a lot of darker color in relation to the lighter color normally seen in most blanks. I personally think that the blank pictured by fast996 will finish up into a beautiful and unusal looking stock. | |||
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I like Hunterbid but the color in the photos have to be manipulated in some fashion. Real easy to do with a simple edit for contrast etc. No flames please I buy wood there and will continue to do so. I've wondered the same about another noted Turkish dealer.......... I don't like that blank either, pretty but flawed. Even if it worked great it would bug me to look at it. ______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else. | |||
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Fast 996...I'd bet a big mac and fries that the color has been "enhanced" Dressels and Heilmann do not make the wood look like something that it is not...m any others, I'm sure, but a bunch try to "pull the wool" | |||
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Fast996, I would pass on that blank, in a hurry. | |||
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Fast996, sorry to say that I will continue to add to your disappointment. I feel that blank has instability written all over it. | |||
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Wow! Nuff Said! I'd say. Jason Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
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My problem exactly with Murat. Blanks never look as good in person as his photos. I love my Avatar Too Fellas. | |||
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I recieved the blank today that I asked opinions on. The blank looks about 99 pct as the picture unfortunately. I say that because all the defects mentioned are there ie bad layout,some branch knots,ect. I talked to Murat and he gave me a no questions asked guarantee on return. To be fair I wanted to see the blank in the flesh and will return it. I have found Murat a pleasure to deal with and he has bent over backward to make sure I am satisfied. "A long life, and the good sense to live it." ...Quintis Arrius 375H&H,404J,416DAK,458AFR,416RIG,450RIG,505GIB Avatar: Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward in Africa NRA member | |||
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Chiron Inc: -15 Days (from shipping date) full refund less shipping. -All returns has to be shipped with the original invoice to: Chiron Inc. 251 Walker Bungalow Rd. Portsmouth NH 03802 USA -The return product(15 Days)has to be in its original shape and condition. -Send an e-mail or call before shipping. -During shaping or carving if you discover an internal unfixable flaw, we will replace the blank. I think its about as good a return policy as any, and i also asked if they would add if the blank was flat sawn or quarter sawn in an e-mail and they have added that to there newer discriptions. With the price of wood these days its nice to know there are people out there that will work with you! I also am told that Mr. Freeman is the same way. _____________________ Steve Traxson | |||
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