doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com European walnut or other?

In my humble opinion it has all the hall marks of European Beech just looking at the gain flow. It is from a plank of what we Brits call "through & through" plank sawn rather than quartered. Also an outsider could be Ash though I have only seen these stocks on low cost air rifles. The stock finish does leave a lot to be desired because the woods grain has been over contrasted with a dark stain, a gentler hand in the finishing and recoil pad fitting could improve matters no end.
I do feel that Birch is a non starter because Birch trees on this side of the pond do not put on large amounts of girth, also the timber has a large number of knots caused by the way the tree grows. To obtain a large enough plank size to be used for a stock blank would be just luck from an extremely old tree because Birch are what we here call Nurse trees, they are short lived and used to protect more valuable hardwoods Oak Ash and Beech in a newly planted plantation.

It has the look of southern yellow pine, but if it is a European gun most likely beech as Damascus has already pointed out.

It certainly isn't a looker but the gun is an AWESOME shooter! It is on a lower grade Beretta, so Beech is more than likely the wood. A refinish on a cheap gun is out of the question, so it will do just as is!!
Thanks Guys!!

Yes I wouldn't refinish it. Beech can be difficult to get to take stain in my experience...others may know tricks. You would probably have to dye it or end up with a very pale stock. I think it looks perfectly fine as is.

Why don't you just tell us what the dang thing is, add another photo or two? How could you wonder if that is European walnut anyway? Not judging, just asking.
JR

It's a lower grade Beretta O/U, mentioned earlier. Just curious what the wood might be, looks like everyone established it was Beechwood of some type. Where did your post go? Now I got to delete mine!! European Walnut is what Beretta said they used for wood, never seen it thats why I asked, we should get a messenger system, these posts keep changing more than my daughter on her first day of school!

Deleted due to repetition. But thanks for the clarity. Now we all know what it is. And I'm not so sure that isn't a very bad piece of sapwood walnut.

RA, it is a good thing to have some knowledge about the various walnuts used for gunstocks. Suggest you begin a little personal education effort, it will serve you well in the future.
JR

There is a method of reducing stain absorption on timber with high and low porosity grain like Beech. First dilute the stain you wish to use by 1:1 2:1 3:1 with the appropriate solvent. Then flood the wood's surface with solvent and while still wet apply the most diluted stain first then let dry. The theory is quite simple flooding the surface with solvent stops the rapid and deep colour absorption so keeping the grain colour difference less than putting neat stain on the wood. Just repeat the solvent with the same dilution of stain or the next stain cut or until you arrive at a good colour compromise. But keep in mind that the final finish will also darken the wood.

Damascus,

Thank you for your knowledge on wood finishing. I've used information provided by you to make alkanet oil and I've also used some of your finishing techniques to satisfying effect.

That looks real sharp just like ole timber on ole' Cugir-made AKM.