doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Try gun stocks

One of the students at the gunsmith school I teach at wants to build a try gun for his final project. Any pictures, diagrams, or ideas you can post will be MKII.

Somewhere to start

Parker
https://books.google.com/books?id=EpcwAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA257&lpg

http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1915/VOL_65_NO_21/SL6521029.pdf

https://jamesdjulia.com/item/3509-358/

Charles Lancaster
https://books.google.com/books?id=EkQaAPPe--4C&pg=PA15&vq

Westley Richards
https://www.theexplora.com/the-westley-richards-try-guns-for-shotgun-measurements/

Model 12
http://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-fo...un_id=100959959

AYA
https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/shotguns/aya/side-by-side/12-gauge/try-gun-no4-boxlock-170818131551001

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVCsoO5Ncvg

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=175947

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1982-Second-Printing-of-Plans-Specifications-L-C-Smith-Shotgun-By-WM-Brophy/132503945921?hash=item1ed9d9c2c1:g:ouQAAOSwzBJagxM6

Pages 229 and 230

Pm sent

One of the best modern versions of a "try stock" was conceived and created by Fred Wenig formerly head of the company bearing his name.....They are really rather interesting, they were conceived so he could provide competitive shooters (primarily Trapshooters then) a platform to better ensure a satisfactory product....

Oddly enough they were wildly popular in their "try Stock" mode as primary competition stock with the Trap crowd....Several ALL-Americans of the era used them on their regular competition guns.

A famous NJ HOF member used one and seeks to buy all he can find (they are relatively scarce as you can imagine) for use by his clinic students....

I have two of them, one in Perazzi mode, one in K80 mode.....

I would be happy to forward one on loan to your student if it it would further his educational progress....

The "knuckle" is truly not a necessary complication of a try gun design. A.P. Curtis designed a try stock while he was employed at a gun company, probably L.C. Smith. It was used by Parker, Ithaca, L.C. Smith, Lefever and probably others. It did not utilize the complicated knuckle yet was adjustable in all directions. My Curtis try gun was made in 1915 if I remember correctly, and it still in use today.

Current anatomical stocks for competition guns are nothing more than rugged, refined try-stocks. The Ergosign Evocomp, the TSK, the Precision Fit Stock, and several similar others. I have a TSK and an Evocomp - both quality items, both lack the optional recoil reducer thingie. I had a PFS for a short time and it was OK as well but I didn't care for the recoil thingie it has as a standard feature and flipped it.
Pix and specs for all of those are easily available on the 'net.

LC Smith links

http://library.centerofthewest.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/WRAC/id/7693/rec/2

http://library.centerofthewest.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/WRAC/id/7577/rec/50

The links that Gary provided are not the Curtis designs that A.P. Curtis built while at Hunter Arms as plant supervisor. Curtis' designs eliminate the knuckle and are the ones most often found in the collector market today, seldom as that is. My Parker Curtis try gun has been in private collections since 1915. Parker made try guns have been offered in auctions many times in the past few years, indicating that collectors do not value them as collectors items but only as profit makers. I have never seen a Lefever, Parker or Smith Curtis try gun offered at auction.

Jack Fanning and the A.P. Curtis try gun
Recreation, December 1914, "Your Shotgun Affinity"
https://books.google.com/books?id=DYA7AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA323&lpg
https://books.google.com/books?id=DYA7AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA347&lpg

The current market anatomical stocks are about as simple as the concept can get and are best as I can tell adjustable in a range exceeding human needs. Waaaaay exceeding.

Or is the purpose of the project just to copy some antique design rather than take the concept and innovate?

It is possible, the student wants to create a tool for his use later in a career of stockmaking. It is my opinion that by creating this tool he will come to a better understanding of just why and how stock design may be adapted to individuals. There is nothing more instructive than figuring out why and how to do something. Yes, the provided information shows how to do it and someone already figured out the hard part. The question as I understand it is: How many different ways are there to make a successful try gun for the stockmaker to use? The members of this board have graciously provided more than one way to "skin the cat".

Buying a ready to use product can be useful...IF you already own a gun that the stock may be attached to....AND you have the money to do so. Most of the students that I have met in Mark II's charge are not financially set enough to purchase such a tool ready made. Therefore "sweat equity" is the best they can afford.

Drew's excellent link to Jack Fanning and one of his try guns shows probably an L.C. Smith. Fanning also used a Parker try gun pictured in posts by Patrick Lein.

Thank you everyone for your input.
I plan on using it in my future Gunsmithing career, and will most definitely learn more about stock fitting by building the try gun myself.
Thanks again

Heath Jamison,
First of all may I congratulate you on your enthusiasm .
Remember you need TWO try guns ! O/U & SxS.
In reality you may well be able to manage all your gunfitting with a gun that has an adjustable comb and the ability to lengthen the stock from about 13" LoP to 16" this fitted with a Jones Pad adjuster ( a luxury item maybe)should cope with all scenario's .
It may be far better to spend your study time learning to understand the intracies of stock fit . Pitch and grip length and radius seem not to be understood.
If you want a MACHINING EXERCISE copy the Holland & Holland try guns with the aluminium machined multiple adjustable angle pistol grip . OR machine a pistol grip with a lockable spherical joint at the wrist of the stock.

No matter what design is decided upon it will only fit ONE model of gun. The TSK/Evocomp style has all the adjusto goodies attached to an interchangeable grip that is available for a number of gun types. That may be a methodology worth pursuing if the try stock is to be an actual tool. Give it some versatility.

Thanks for chiming in Heath! I thought it might be you. Will be back in IA teaching again this year. Hope you stop by or take the class! Great to have seen you in January at DSC.

The original Lancaster Try Gun patent is sitting here next to me. I can try to photograph the drawings. The old paper has deep creases, and can be tough to photograph well

A pane of glass and indirect lighting can make that lots easier.

That is a good suggestion, thank you. My house is gonna get really cold after I pull out that window pane, but hey, it's for a good cause. Seriously, I will go hunt one down, as it probably is the only way to photograph this old paper. First we must ensure the paper won't break under the weight of the glass

There�s a William Evans try gun for sale on Guns International right now if anyone has an interest.

OK the AH Thorn\ Charles Lancaster try gun patent was pulled, and it is fascinating. But the drawing is not mechanically helpful for what is being sought here. Very basic engineering drawing.

Hope you can view this. Last item is a AyA try gun From Nick Mackinson.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/sh...un-fully-adjust