doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Aya stock selection

I don't think it's a problem. Might be real pretty. They fill in defects with epoxy and wood chips is my understanding. I think it will be very nice when done.

If it was mine, I would see what it looked like layed out upside down...

As I see it. The knot is far enough back to not be a problem for the strength of the project. However the depth of the knot could be a problem. I think it would be wise to carve the stock way oversize first and then make the decision to use it or not. If there is a big hole underneath there could be a problem. I have fixed and used such stock material before for a client.

Before you "carve" that blank I would trim off several places with a band saw to give myself extra wood to use if a void is under that knot. Not saying there is one but a well inlet repair can become invisible while saw dust and large chips are hard to use in anything other than very minor blemishes.

I had a blank with a burl which became about half an inch across when shaped. It was a canyon. I was able to use a "trimmed" section to inlet a perfect repair into the stock. When finished it was completely invisible. It took four or five donor segments to get the one with the right grain structure and color but in the end it worked well.

Lot of sapwood deep in the head of that blank.
JR

I wouldn't use it even for a 28 gauge. IMO the layout isn't very good in the head/neck area. Recoil isn't the problem. The problem is if you happen to take any kind of a fall its probably going to break. Also, when its finished IMO it just won't look right because the grain is going to swing up or down where it meets the receiver. Just my opinion and worth about what folks normally pay for it.

Regarding the knot, I had one in a very nice stock that had a void under the knot. Somewhere over time the knot just fell out and bingo, you have a 1/2" hole just show up that went in for another inch. We fixed it, but it never really looked right.

I'm pretty sure the man wants a beautiful stock 'in his price range'. And we are not talking stocking a Purdey. I think it would be better if a little straighter in the grip, but this blank will likely be fine for what Grouse Gunner wants imho. The knot could be a problem, but probably not.

Just to give you all an idea of why this is a sad situation..

My grandfather who taught me everything I know about hunting was recently in Spain and was very excited to pick me out a stock. I asked him to get the closest block resembling #1 grade wood, but in #2 price range. I never would have thought that they would have inferior wood materials at the aya factory, especially for hand selection. This is the piece he picked, he is not back yet so I haven't had a chance to talk to him about it, but the dealer I am having it built through mentioned when he was sent the pic that he might have rejected it based on the knot.

I am not sure I would have purchased an Aya if it wasn't for the sentimental value of having my grandfather pick out the stock. I am a younger guy and I figured I would think of him every time I look at it. It was very disheartening to learn that this might not be a structurally sound piece of wood. But I guess I will just have to give it a go.

John: If AyA owns the blank and are making the stock, one would think if the blank is found to be incompetent when they start making the stock, they would provide you with another blank free of charge. I don't think you have much to worry with here.

No problem at all, and I say this after having restocked three guns with similar type wood. It was a personal quirk to have all stocks from the same tree that forced the choice.

Modern vacuum filling can cure the knot if it turns out to be problematic. As for the sap over the grip, that will be trimmed off. The grain through the hand looks pretty good to me. The knot actually looks more like a swirl than a knot.