doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Anyone up for a wood critique?

I'm sure there are a few posters who have commissioned more than a couple of rifles, and I know there are some builders posting here.

I have my sights on blanks 258 & 260 in the photos below. Both were cut over 15 years ago and are very hard and dense, Australian walnut. They are not the fanciest blanks around, but they are straight. My only concern is whether they are too straight through the wrist. I have three pending projects - left hand rifles in 257 Rob., 30-06 & 9.3x64.

Sorry these are the only photos I have. Any and all comments, opinions etc appreciated.


cheers,
- stu

Mr. Vardy sells very nice wood.

He sure does. Have you bought anything from Roger?

I spent 5 hours at his place 4 years ago.





Most of the Aussie wood I've seen is very hard. There is quite a bit that tends to grey shades, but you don't have to go far to find good fiddleback, if that's what you like. I didn't see much with the extreme figure of the best Turkish blanks, but maybe that's just because it's sold to all the rich foreigners


Thanks for posting.
cheers,
- stu

I really like that 258.......particularly left side.

Straight through the forearm and curving down to parallel the toe line.

I've only had one (on a mannlicher stock) that was that "right".

Mannlicher 7x57

Lovely rifle stock Grandview, who did the work?

Thanks, Rob.

I did the work a number of years ago after GAG cut me a semi-inlet. My brother bought the blank from Don Cantwell.

Number 258 or 260 seem the best choice. But a view of the grain flow on the top would be a very good indication also. Seems both are quarter sawn or nearly so.
Regards
John Mc

Thanks for the comments. I bought 258 & 260. Quarter sawn was what I was looking for. These were as close as I could find. Although I don't have top and bottom view photos, I saw these blanks when I visited Roger a few years ago and had them reserved for me. They'll be sent to Ross Waghorn in Melbourne for stocking a couple of the projects I mentioned above. He seems to like the pictures he's seen of these two.

They were sold to me for AU$500 ea. That would be about +/- US$460. Seem reasonable enough?

Grandview, that's a fine looking stock. I appreciate the photo.


cheers,
- stu