I have a Whitworth Express stock that has a nice dark finish with some black streaks through it. Does anyone know what type of wood was used? The African model stock has a similar appearance.

How suitable is ironwood for a stock making? I know it will be hard to machine but will it stand up to recoil well?

Thanks,
Eric

Whitworths are stocked with European walnut, some with nice figure or mineral streaking. I have an Interarms MiniMauser with factory wood that is highly figured. Ironwood, like oak, has a tendency to split, splinter or warp, despite its strength.

[ 02-10-2003, 04:43: Message edited by: fla3006 ]

Whitworths are European walnut, mostly a low grade of Turkish..I say low grade because they are purchased in bulk but low grade Turkish is better than most other woods in high grade..It is light, strong and not prone to warp in the straight grain low grade wood, better for a using stock than marble cake...

Iron wood is brittle, prone to crack in half and much to heavy for a rifle stock...Rifle stock wood must be very strong, light and workable, that equates to only one wood, a thin shell Walnut, preferably Turkish on todays market, since most all the real French is gone.

Thanks for the info. What's your feeling about mesquite? I have a friend looking into using it for his rifle.

Eric

Mesquite makes a beautiful stock. Don Dobbratz, on the north side of Victoria, TX, has had a lot of experience with mesquite, has some nice blanks, and is a first class stockmaker.