Rifle stock build progress thread

[Decker9]

I was able to save this piece I have, it might be a little short at 1 1/2’ish inches long after trimming out the little cracks, but should do the trick.



My daughter had to make those into eyeballs lol.



I have a pair of cut off drillbits from the couple other tips Iv done, locating pins I guess. A little tap located my drill points on the Ebony tip.



Iv used clear 5 minute epoxy with so far so good results. I’ll clean these up with acetone, re check the fit and hopefully get it glued together tonight.

 

[Decker9]

It’s looking good this morning!



I often find myself re reading this article a few times during the process, very thankful for the few books my grandad left behind.

 

[Brontosaurus]

This is way cool to see the process happen! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Decker9]

I hope you all have the best Christmas!! I managed to sneak away for a bit, got the Ebony tip mostly filed flush. It’s still a little to oval’ish I think, I’ll round it off a bit more yet and sharpen up the top edges of the barrel channel.



I received a book from my sister for Christmas, looking forward to diving into it!!

 

[Decker9]

Happy new year!

I got a little rounding on the tip, im glad I went with the Ebony, I think it will jive with the carbon barrel.

 

[Decker9]

This was really a lesson learnt about taking to much wood. I was working on the grip when I envisioned a raised lip around the rear under tang. Before I knew it, I was to far along to turn back. I’m not pleased with the lines (more so at the front tang), but did learn some lessons that will help down the road.



With the rear tang done, I couldn’t leave the front end plain, this was the more difficult end, and where I’m not to happy with the lines. There’s still a ways to go to even everything up, hoping I can get it to where I like it.



I also started to round off the grip cap, a spot that leaves a lot of room for an eyesore. I think I may open up the grip a touch more which will reduce the size of the cap end, it still seems a little large, and seems my trigger finger is still a little to close. Opening up the grip a bit should fix that

 

[Decker9]

I’m getting down to the details now, the changes don’t really show in the photos, but things are slimming and sharpening up.

I got the grip all fitted, I sorta copied the AG composites privateer for the grip angle, it doesn’t look “right” to me in wood, but it sure feels nice. Trying to fit my opposite hand has been a bit of a challenge as I shoot left handed. My lady claims the right hand grip feels pretty good, so I’ll roll with it.



I slimmed up the butt stock a little and tapered up the forend. I have a little more to go on rounding Ebony tip still. I almost put an Ebony grip cap on, but decided to keep it off and try making the wood pleasant to the eye. Trying to create a bit of a symmetrical convex on the face of the cap has been a challenge. I think I need to slim up the transition into the grip from the butt a bit still, the lower grip looks like it has jowls lol.


I ordered some Alkanet root to do some experimenting with. I have 3 jars soaking, one with tung oil, one with Danish oil and one in mineral spirits. I’ll play a bit with these before deciding on a finish to use. I’m still liking the plain Danish oil, I’ll see how the red tint does on my test pieces after a couple/few weeks of soaking.



A game changer!!

A knife builder friend of mine recommended scalloped belting, it sure is nice for the rounds and tight spots!!

 

[Agross]

Can’t wait to see the finished product. Very cool.

 

[svivian]

Im trying to ignore your stock of bullets and powder.... particularly the RL 26

 

[Goatie]

This is amazing work.

 

[bootstrap]

Following along. Awesome work!!!

 

[Decker9]

Thanks guys!

svivian, winters the time for stock making and stockpiling lol. I’ll burn that stuff off this summer…. Until I run out of primers

 

[Bassman]

I've very much enjoyed following along. I (and I'm sure others) appreciate the effort you are putting into these posts.

 

[long hunter]

I’m getting down to the details now, the changes don’t really show in the photos, but things are slimming and sharpening up.

I got the grip all fitted, I sorta copied the AG composites privateer for the grip angle, it doesn’t look “right” to me in wood, but it sure feels nice. Trying to fit my opposite hand has been a bit of a challenge as I shoot left handed. My lady claims the right hand grip feels pretty good, so I’ll roll with it.

View attachment 502639View attachment 502642

I slimmed up the butt stock a little and tapered up the forend. I have a little more to go on rounding Ebony tip still. I almost put an Ebony grip cap on, but decided to keep it off and try making the wood pleasant to the eye. Trying to create a bit of a symmetrical convex on the face of the cap has been a challenge. I think I need to slim up the transition into the grip from the butt a bit still, the lower grip looks like it has jowls lol.
View attachment 502643

I ordered some Alkanet root to do some experimenting with. I have 3 jars soaking, one with tung oil, one with Danish oil and one in mineral spirits. I’ll play a bit with these before deciding on a finish to use. I’m still liking the plain Danish oil, I’ll see how the red tint does on my test pieces after a couple/few weeks of soaking.

View attachment 502644

A game changer!!

A knife builder friend of mine recommended scalloped belting, it sure is nice for the rounds and tight spots!!

View attachment 502638

I think an ebony grip cap would carry through from the ebony nose cap and make a good-looking transition for the eye to follow. I really like the raised carving around the mag plate and trigger guard. But then being a traditional muzzle loader fan the molding work is a eye catcher.

 

[Smiley882]

Wow, looks amazing! Nothing beats a nice piece of walnut. I’m really digging the classic style walnut stock combined with the more modern defiant action and carbon barrel. Can’t wait to see it when finished. Great work!

 

[Macintosh]

Lookin’ sharp!

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Absolutely beautiful. I wish I had 1/10 of your talent and diligence.

 

[Decker9]

Thanks a bunch guys!

I agree Smiley, something about carbon and walnut just looks sexy.

I got to dabble a little with the Alkanet mix, it defiantly added a little tone it looks like. The other side has 4 coats of straight Danish oil, I’ll add 4 coats of this mix to this side to compare afterwards, this is the first coat, wet, then wet sanded and rubbed in. The tung oil mix looks pretty good in the jar, I’ll be trying it out tomorrow I think.



I have 2 big jobs to do still, bedding with pillars and fitting the recoil pad. I have a box of Maine Tex on the way to try out for bedding, Iv used devcon in the past with luck, but the stuff always hardens up and most goes to waste. I’m hoping this marine Tex will have a better shelf life.

Iv gotten all of the file and 80 grit marks out, a bit more light sanding in a few places and the shaping should be pretty much done, besides the tang and ejection port which I’m waiting until after bedding to sand to flush.

The Ebony turned out pretty good I think. A bit more polishing to go on it. It’s developed a hairline crack it looks like right on the tip, but I can’t feel it at all so maybe just a grain? I’ll hit it with some 600 grit next snd see if it comes out.

 

[Decker9]

It was early, figured I had time to play.

Top to bottom,

Tung oil
Mineral spirits
Danish oil

All soaked in Alkanet root for a couple/few weeks. The mineral spirits show a nice red, the Danish oil took on more of a purple, and the tung took on more of a golden brown.




Tung/Alkanet



Mineral spirits with 50% tung oil and a half dozen drops of spar varnish


And Danish oil / Alkanet root. All one coat hand rubbed in. I’ll see how they feel for dryness tomorrow and re apply

 

[Five-oh-deuce]

Very impressive, thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to see the finished product


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