I want to try my hand at carving a stock

I have a semi-inletted stock that I picked up cheap and want to fit it to a 1923 LC Smith FW field 12 gauge action. The wood is just plain ole black walnut. Nothing fancy.

Can anyone give me the summary order of steps in fitting beyond disassembly of the gun and any broad brush stroke tips. I am assuming the first step is fitting the top tang square to the back of the receiver with keeping the orientation of the side plates in mind?

I know this is something for the pros but the pros started out just like me.

I am willing to mess up for the education.

Many thanks

Travis

I would suggest starting with a boxlock first but if you are going to give it a go I will offer the following advice. Completely disassembly the action(cocking rods can stay). I would inlet the top tang about 60% of the way then lightly start the bottom strap into the action and the semi inlet. You have to watch a lot of things at once, depth of action into the wood from the top and front, twist left and right, sideplate cuts. Looking at an old stock can be very helpful. Be sparing with your inletting black and go slow. If you have specific questions ask away. Good luck but again, I would suggest an easier project first.

First step-- make sure the inletted stock blank is the right size for your Smith- two main frame sizes, regardless of gauge- R frame-- longer- longer barrel lug than on FW series- also, lock plates for a FW Smith will have machine screws in the front section, plus the main one in the top rear of the plate-- If you try to fit a R framed Smith into an inletted blank for a FW frame Smith-- it ain't gonna be pretty! RWTF

Yeah I know a little ambitious.

Both frame and stock are for a FW frame.

I am going to do it but for now I am studying some stocks I have and measuring and just trying to get an initial lay of the land.

Thanks

get a copy of craft of the gunsmith. he has a chapter on fashioning a stock for an english, sle. very useful. a dremel is helpful pluse some very sharp sculpting chisels of various sizes and shapes. SKBs is on mark, patience, patience, patience. i made a latex cast of the old, with the locks off of a LC 16, and used it as a guide along with a kero soot pot for blacking.

good luck

if you have a dremel leave it at a neighbors house. lc smith stocks are very difficult get some nice files and unless you are very good with chisels leave those at the neighbors also. the top tang and locks have to be done together or you will have gaps.im not a stock guy but i have seen the suffering caused by inletting a lc smith stock.best of luck

That is pretty funny but not bad advice but unfortunately I will chuckle but not heed

I agree with mc about the Dremel. It has it's uses in my gunshop, but inletting is not one of them, IMO.

SRH

I meant I will not head the leaving the job to the professionals but I do agree and was never inclined to use the Dremel for the job. Scrapers and files and chisels Oh My.

And just go very slow. I have done that job a couple of times which means almost anyone can with care.

Travis
hi, I know nothing about stocking, but if if I were to try tackling it, I'd try doing some practice on some pine or poplar, or cheap wood..just to work out the tricky inletting bits
just an idea
best of luck, & keep us posted
cheers
Franc

I was kind of thinking the same thing. I have to believe that doing it the long first time with a sacrificial piece will make the second time hopefully not so long and higher chances of a better outcome.

Thanks