I recently ordered a stock from Great American Stock company and it came in yesterday. What you see in the picture is the first thing that caught my eye, Is this right? I ordered an ebony fore-end tip and they did install one, but it looks like the stock shaper got though the ebony and back into wood colored wood. Is this normal? After I shape the tip do I re-stain it or is this a factory screw up? Is this something I fix or does it need to go back?

I've done a laminate Fajen blank before but never one with an ebony fore-end tip. I'm very happy with the wood grain and the (eventual) shape of the stock. Please advise. Terry

Terry:

Sure doesn't look like an ebony forend tip to me. The ones that I have gotten from Great American were jet black (Gibon ebony). That might be Madagascar ebony which looks like streaked, dark walnut.

I'd e-mail Henry and ask for an explanation.

Rick

If it were me, I would send it back. They gave you sap wood in the ebony. But then, I am pretty picky.

Might be easiar to get a chunk of ebony and replace the tip they put on. Shipping costs and haggle/ hassle might not be worth it to you.

I would promptly send that piece of crap back, they know better than that, unless you got a sell out or some kind of a deal....that is inferior wood and poor quality control...

TC1---

"Ebony" usually means black "Gaboon" ebony, not Maccassar ebony which is what you got.

It's soft, light colored, and cheap.

What did you pay for it? What type of action is it for? What kind of figure in the walnut? In other words, if the price is right and the stock is for an action I need a stock for, I might be interested. I kind of like the streaking effect, if not, I have some mesquite I can replace it with. Let me know if you haven't sent it back. E-mail me. I know it is soft and cheap.....so am I.

Hey Larry, the stock is for a 98 mauser and I've got entirely too much cash invested in this stock to let it go "cheap." The stock was $175 and the wood is very nice, but I had a decelarator pad, magnum cross-bolt and Nieder steel grip cap installed which drove the price up to $350 after shipping! I honestly don't think it's worth what I paid and the best thing to do is send it back.

Thanks for the interest though. Terry

Also, I did talk to Henry @ GAG today. I explained what the problem was and to his credit, he said, just send it back and he'd make it right. I know it should've never gone out the door like it did,but at least he's easy to work with. Terry

Hey guys, I just saw this thread and thought I could add. I have worked with ebony similar to that. It didn't have quite as much of the brown color, but it had some very noticeable streaks. I like it myself, because it gives it more of the look of a unique piece of wood, rather than black plastic. It is not always sapwood that is the brown color. Sometimes the wood just has some different color. The wood grows naturally that color, and is not stained. I know someone will most likely say I had the different ebony, but it was solid black at one end and gradually had more brown streaks toward the other end. I apologize if I offended anyone. I just wanted to put in a word and express myself. Also, if anyone could shed more light on something I don't know, I would be glad to listen.

Like I said, I like that look. I have had customers that call in and say we didn't quite stain it right. So we explain that it isn't plastic, and if they want plastic, or a different piece, we would be glad to change it.

Thanks,
Mark

[ 06-20-2003, 23:46: Message edited by: VV Mark ]

Mark---

If it had brown in it it was Maccassar ebony instead of the solid black species.

In sunlight you can see a very dark chocolate color in really black ebony but seldom anything else.

The Buck M-110 large folders had Maccassar ebony scales on them for many years.

The difference is much the same as the difference between Indian rosewood and Brazilian. Indian is grown as a shade tree in tea plantations and are harvested like pulp wood. Brazilian is old growth and not sustainable.

Ebony is the same way. Maccassar is cheaper because it's more plentiful. Black ebony is more desirable because it's harder, denser and more consistant in color.

Maccassar looks GREAT with color case hardening. They compliment each other.

Thanks for the extra info. I like to know more things about what I am working with.

Mark