New walnut for an old classic

[Decker9]

Ok I cheated a little, actually a tip from the best stock maker I know so I don’t consider it cheating .

A few practice runs and it was off to the bottom end.



A little shaky


Waiting on a spartan adaptor before I do the forend mount. Between the sling mount a spartan adapter and schnabel there will best going on…. A lot to line up straight . Figured I was good to do the buttstock



Came out as good as I could hoped for my first time. I may take it down a hair more if I need once I start sanding

 

[Macintosh]

Timed screws!

 

[BravoNovember]

Good work! Makes me want to get a chunk of wood and some tools and mess around. I’d have some expensive and ugly firewood

 

[Decker9]

Took a little holiday to chase winter goats with a couple buddy’s. Was good to get out of the basement and into the hills. Good friend connected on a 11 year old Billy.



Iv been looking for Jerry’s prints for years! Midway won’t ship up here to Canada. I put an add in a Canadian forum and got a reply from a fellow who knows Jerry’s wife, who still sells a few things Jerry had. She hooked me up with Jerry’s model 70 and Mauser 98 prints. I had them laminated and now pinned on the wall, pretty stoked to have these.



Also got in the spartan adaptor.



Soon to be adding a lot of sanding dust to the pile.

 

[Macintosh]

@Decker9 Tell me about “jerry’s prints” please. I had no idea this was a thing, having done all my own drawings from photos or in person.

 

[Decker9]

Got the sling mounts and spartan adaptor in there. The forend is pretty close, I’ll swap end here and get the butt shaped and the recoil pad on so I can start shaving down the cheek piece.



Fitting the rear



I ended up with a chip out



With some finish it should be unnoticeable.

 

[Decker9]

@Decker9 Tell me about “jerry’s prints” please. I had no idea this was a thing, having done all my own drawings from photos or in person.

Jerry fisher has a few to scale prints of his designs. The are like a schematic with the measurements throughout the stock. I think they will be a good reference for a guy who’s learning

 

[Macintosh]

Thats cool. 100% for sure getting some of those arcane dimensions right—when you dont even know to think about a dimension or what it will do if you change it—is really hard.

 

[Decker9]

I got a lesson on declarator pads, my own stupidity looking back, it’s obvious that black insert was going to pop through.



So I ordered another but with a black base, I think the black base will look better then without.

So staring to take down thickness and straightening up lines.



Still looking, large. I may take a bit out of the belly still.


The new pad came in, got most of it on the belt sander now finishing with sand paper wrapped around flat file.

 

[Decker9]

Iv been slacking here, but not at the bench!

I’ll skip past the last of the shaping and detailing as it’s mostly unnoticeable in photos . I wanted to put a few through it before going on with the finishing, just in case.

Iv never fired a .338wm before, my first shot was from standing, I was expecting recoil something like my 338-375, or my lighter loaded h&h maybe. I was very surprised that the recoil was far less, over the bench these 3 rounds were pleasant to shoot. The trigger feels like it’s about 6-8 pounds though, I will adjust and polish it up a bit.



I went over everything with 400 grit after, I was pretty happy about that. It’s been a long process to here, though it’s not finished, it is a big exhale.

Looking back, whiskering probably wasn’t needed since I was going to fill the pores by wet sanding anyway. I know there’s no right or wrong way, but I know this way works so I didn’t chance it. Off with the whiskers



I mixed up equal parts Tru oil, BLO and mineral spirits and lathered it on. I kept the whole thing soaked until it wouldn’t take any more then wiped clean, 10-15 minutes or so, then dried for 4-5 days in the warm basement.


I wish I could post video of the process, I’m not sure there’s anything as satisfying as oil going on figured wood.

 

[Decker9]

I ended up giving it another soak with 50/50 tru oil and BLO then let dry. Next was wet sanding with 400 grit and the 50/50 mix.

I made a few different shaped backers for the process


First wet sanding complete. I left it a bit tacky and muddy to help with filling the pores on the next wet sanding.

It ended up taking 4 rounds of wet sand with this process, first 2 with 400 grit wet/dry then the last 2 with 600 grit wet/dry. The last wet sand I rubbed in by hand until my skin was ready to melt.

 

[Decker9]

I got one coat on now, I think it’s looking pretty not bad. I’ll get another one on in the next day or two and see how it looks then. Bear season is around the corner here and this one’s chomping at the bit to get packed and used.

 

[waspocrew]

I got one coat on now, I think it’s looking pretty not bad. I’ll get another one on in the next day or two and see how it looks then. Bear season is around the corner here and this one’s chomping at the bit to get packed and used.

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Absolutely stunning. This makes my "nice" carbon stocked rifles look like cheap pieces of crap.

 

[Outlaw99]

Beyond gorgeous! Thanks for taking the time to do a step by step write up. I really enjoyed it

 

[rifletuner]

Thats come up very nice. The figure of the wood looks great. I have been following along since the start, but cant remember if you mentioned checkering. To my eye it is crying out for checkering.

 

[Reddish]

Absolutely stunning. This makes my "nice" carbon stocked rifles look like cheap pieces of crap.

This is how I always feel when I pull a carbon or synthetic stock out of the safe…

 

[Decker9]

Thanks guys, I believe it will get checkered at some point, besides looking good I think the added grip is a big benefit.

Those carbons look pretty nice in a walnut!

 

[prm]

Gorgeous! I admire your work!