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Forums10
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 149 Likes: 5
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 149 Likes: 5 |
I have been told that Fox Sterlingworth stocks cannot be successfully bent due to the use of American Walnut. Graded Fox's are more amenable to bending due to the use of English Walnut. Do you all concur?
If American walnut is not amenable to bending, does that therefor mean that stock's of L.C.Smith's, Lefever's, Winchester M21 and 23, Ithaca, and Parker's cannot be successfully bent? I don't know what wood was used to stock these guns-just assuming it's American Walnut.
On a slight tangent-does bending a stock negatively impact the gun's collector value?
Thanks
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,092 Likes: 13
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,092 Likes: 13 |
The answer regarding American Walnut is yes and no. I just successfully bent a 20g. Sterlingworth. It was difficult and required more pressure than I am comfortable with and it took two sessions to get it where I needed it to be. It had three inches of drop. On the other hand I have had Parkers and Ithacas that I could not budge. I have bent a few field grade LC Smiths. I guess you have to try and take the risk of breaking a stock. I have been lucky so far.
Cast on cast off is easier and you can probably bend most guns.
How would anyone know if your gun stock was bent? It may have come that way so no, I don't think it hurts value. It opens the gun to a broader market so it may actually enhance the value since both shooters and non-using collectors can both buy it.
So many guns, so little time!
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 229 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 229 Likes: 4 |
I had my Parker repro 12 bent and it was successful. They used hot oil to soften the wood and then refinished that area of the stock.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,740 Likes: 97
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,740 Likes: 97 |
keep it simple and keep it safe...
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 691 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 691 Likes: 7 |
I had a 20-ga. Sterlingworth, its original stock had a 14" LOP and a 2 3/4" d@h. I sent it to Mike Orlen requesting that he bend it up as much as he felt comfortable. It was returned having 2 3/8" d@h. It stayed.
Wild Skies
Since 1951
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,437 Likes: 34
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,437 Likes: 34 |
I have been told that Fox Sterlingworth stocks cannot be successfully bent due to the use of American Walnut. My sample of one says that the rumors are correct. I have a Sterly 12 that I took to a nationally known and highly respected gunsmith to have the stock bent. He did not hesitate to bend it or to charge me for the bend, even though he blew out a big chunk of walnut alongside the top tang. Would have been salvageable if he had not glued the chunk back, badly, with what looks like Acraglass. No easy way to get a good glue line now, so it just sits in the case waiting for a solution. That was the second time he completely botched a wood repair and the last time I used him.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,730 Likes: 488
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,730 Likes: 488 |
Every stock is unique. I tried bending a Black Walnut using a setup designed by another poster on this board using hot oil and heat lamps. It bent only to return to its original bend. Tried it again and left it in the clamps for a full week. Within two months it was back where it started from. On the third attempt it broke. Maybe I was too aggressive that time or three bends and you are out. Another Sterlingworth bent easily and held the bend. Both looked to have similar grain flow in the wrist. So one worked and the other did not. Its not impossible to find a Sterlingworth take off stock so it may be that be worth a try. But if the grain flow is not good in the wrist, or has any type of knots or weird grain flow, I would not try it.
Do a search on this site to see a couple setups to try. Not hard to make if you have a little wood working skills.
Last edited by KY Jon; 09/12/18 07:49 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
Not sure about all the other makes you mentioned, but Lefever /Arms Co catalogs all state their guns are stocked in European Walnut. Although I admit to not being a walnut expert this does appear to be the case with the ones I have, all the way down through the H grades. I don't have a DS or I grade to look at.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,826 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,826 Likes: 12 |
I made a jig years ago from someone who posted on here. A Remington would bend like butter - and go right back. Other would bend and stay. I've cracked a couple by not paying enough attention to the grain flow in the wrist area. A friend throws a couple bags of shot on the barrels. From the trigger guard back it hangs over the bench with a bag of shot on the butt end. A couple of heat lamps and a oil soaked rag around the stock does it. He just keeps busy in the shop and watches the stock to see if it will bend. When it gets to what he wants he turns the lamps off. He's never broke a stock yet.
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