| Project by HalDougherty | posted 240 days ago | 1881 views | 4 times favorited | 20 comments |  |
 |
This stock was carved from the first walnut log I harvested and sawed with my new sawmill. It’s dried slowly so the wood is both dry and seasoned. Dried too quickly, the lumber will have internal stresses that are undesirable in a finished gunstock. I sawed this lumber 1” thick as slabs and each 3 slabs have enough crotch figure to make one outstanding stock. Stocks made from the rest of the log are beautiful, but they are not as spectacular. I will be able to get 4 or 5 stocks with crotch feather in the butt from this log. This is my third attempt to carve this stock for the customer. Beautiful figured wood is brittle and can split and the sliver is impossible to find in the bushels of shavings around my stock duplicator. The sharp corner behind the bolt flew off on the first attempt. I tried to patch another piece of wood, but it just didn’t look right. The next one I wasn’t thinking and I cut off the beavertail forend just in front of the action. It didn’t ahve the flowing lines the pattern had. So, I carved another one and this is it. I’m supposed to cut off the forend and attach a maple burl tip. But… After 2 failures, I am hesitant to cut up this beautiful stock. I’ve only started sanding… The curves of this stock make sanding with power tools an exercise in frustration.
-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com
| Pin It |
20 comments so far
HillbillyShooter
home | projects | blog
1347 posts in 458 days
#1 posted 240 days ago
Now that is one fine stock with truly outstanding crotch feathering—just almost too beautiful for a Remington 700 and needs to be on a really fine shotgun (not that I have anything against Remington 700 since I own four and love them), just that I appreciate a stock like that a whole lot more on a fine trap or skeet gun. Thanks for sharing.
-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington
Monte Pittman
home | projects | blog
7037 posts in 504 days
#2 posted 240 days ago
That’s really impressive
-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it. - It's not ability that we often lack, but the patience to use our ability
bowtie
home | projects | blog
617 posts in 512 days
#3 posted 240 days ago
beautiful work!
-- bowtie,.....jus passin thru.... cccedar.com
grfrazee
home | projects | blog
217 posts in 305 days
#4 posted 240 days ago
Definitely one of the best I’ve seen of yours. Great job!
-- -=Pride is not a sin=-
Joe Lyddon
home | projects | blog
6377 posts in 2218 days
#5 posted 240 days ago
Good idea… that ‘thumb’ hole… more comfy that way… LOL
Beautiful work as usual!
Thank you.
-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"
Don W
home | projects | blog
9932 posts in 733 days
#6 posted 240 days ago
I always leave these projects alerts in my inbox until I have time to look. They are always worth the while. That’s an amazing looking stock. I kind of agree, I don’t think it needs a maple forend. Why fool with perfection?
-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)
StephenSchaad
home | projects | blog
201 posts in 344 days
#7 posted 240 days ago
Wow… I don’t think I’d have the patience to carve a stock like this.. haha nice work!
luv2learn
home | projects | blog
763 posts in 469 days
#8 posted 240 days ago
Great work Hal, your customer can be proud of that stock for sure.
-- Lee~"If the women don't find you handsome, at least they ought to find you handy"~ Red Green
jaykaypur
home | projects | blog
2493 posts in 574 days
#9 posted 240 days ago
A real beauty. The walnut grain is stunning.
-- Use it up, Wear it out --------------- Make it do, Or do without!
Roger
home | projects | blog
9191 posts in 970 days
#10 posted 240 days ago
Ohyesssss…....
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
NikonF100
home | projects | blog
48 posts in 1352 days
#11 posted 240 days ago
Hal, I BET , the person that’s getting that stock , won’t mind at all if it don’t have a burl maple tip. They may like that Burl Maple Tip on another gun stock , like maybe the Ruger Model 77 MK II , 6.5×55 , they plan on getting in a couple of weeks. BUT that is BEAUTIFULL , and sure , they’ll be proud to show that off . All I can say is WOW !!!!!!
horsefly
home | projects | blog
35 posts in 960 days
#12 posted 239 days ago
Looks great, hard to beat beautiful wood. One concern, looks to me like there are finger groves where
a palm swell should be but maybe I’m missing something. Anyway, BEAUTIFUL.
-- Bob, Carlisle, MA "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not". Thomas Jefferson
Jim Jakosh
home | projects | blog
7243 posts in 1271 days
#13 posted 239 days ago
Sweet stock, Hal!!
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!
NikonF100
home | projects | blog
48 posts in 1352 days
#14 posted 238 days ago
I’ve shown this site to several people and they’re envious of this stock and whoever is getting it. General concenus is THAT IS SHARP !!!
Skelatile
home | projects | blog
40 posts in 963 days
#15 posted 237 days ago
I love your work! Great job! My 700 has a nice walnut stock but no where near as beautiful as that one!
View all comments »
showing 1 through 15 of 20 comments
Have your say...