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Most Online9,918 Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 66
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 66 |
Hello Folks
I am at the stage of sourcing the blank for a new stock for the Mauser Kurz Model B that I am slowly upgrading (from its severely bubba'd state).
I am having a little difficulty describing to the purveyors of blanks what would be typical Model B grade wood. I have been describing it as “very plain but dense and with good flow, and middle hue when aged”. I keep getting pictures of blanks with all sorts of figure – only a very few of the pictures I’ve seen of Model B’s had any figure at all, and even then it was a few modest streaks.
Any ideas on how to describe typical Model B grade wood ??
Thanks - Foster
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,330 Likes: 109
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,330 Likes: 109 |
Try this website. He has a lot of pics of his blanks and you can buy right thru the web. I have bought a few from them without complaint. Even if you don't buy you might see what your minds eye wants. http://www.oldtreegunblanks.com/
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,226 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,226 Likes: 3 |
Odd that plain straight-grained dense walnut, which used to be the standard for across-the-counter guns, is fairly hard to buy. I had the same problem trying to match the new forend wood on a Martini to the original buttstock; people kept trying to sell me wood that was very plain open-pored and coarse grained, or very dense and "pretty". Finally cut the forend off a buggered up Rem 513 govt. issue .22 target rifle. Juuuust right!
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,429 Likes: 35
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,429 Likes: 35 |
Isn't Roger Vardy in your neighborhood?
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 66
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 66 |
Yep- Roger is "just across the ditch" and would happily supply a blank I'm sure, its just that the dealers I have thus far corresponded with have sent quite different pictures to what I was expecting.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,274 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,274 Likes: 1 |
Several years back I was cutting and selling English walnut, then I couldn't give plain blanks away. Probably most plain wood ends up in the fireplace. The German guns seem to have plain wood on them, even their double guns. They must know something we don't.
I learn something every day, and a lot of times it's that what I learned the day before was wrong
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,881
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,881 |
Most American pre-war makers used a lot of very plain thin-shell European walnut. Look at the early G&H's and Sedgleys. It's about impossible to find today.
MP Sadly Deceased as of 2/17/2014
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 527
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 527 |
Foster; Have you looked on the Hunterbid website especially their Mannlicher lenght stocks? I think the reason "plain" stocks are not readilly available is simply this. Restocking can be a fairly pricey affair and for a few $ more you can get some nicer grained wood - you get the drift, therefore no market for "plain". --- John Can.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,429 Likes: 35
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,429 Likes: 35 |
All wood cutters have plain wood. I buy it for pattern stocks, so if you locate the actual cutter, rather than the retailer, its easy, cheap and if they practice good blank layout, is stronger, straighter and stabler than any of the fancy stuff. The last 2-piece and sporter length pattern wood I bought at $25 each, a couple years ago. When I left Oregon I took about 20 English walnut pattern blanks at $15 each. That's why I mentioned Roger Vardy, he is a cutter and in Australia, I believe closer to Tentman than other suppliers(?) Picking from the cutters inventory and not paying for shipping is the real key to good plain wood at a reasonable price. Nobody want to ship, or pay for shipping plain wood.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,672 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,672 Likes: 4 |
SDH is right about going to the actual cutter of walnut trees. I have about 60 thick flitches I cut 20 odd years ago with a bandsaw mill. Most small mills usually have flitches lying around from trees that didn't get cut up into lumber for one reason or another.I just talked to the owner of a small mill that has been around since the late 20's.He said he still has logs waiting to be cut that have been there for years. As long as the bark is still on the logs they won't check as to be unusable.The really desirable logs,for one reason or another,usually get sawn up right away.
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