doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Which boxlock stock heads never crack? And why?

I was re-reading some old posts and realized I never thanked everyone for sharing their observations. Thank you!

Here's what I took from the above...1) scalloped receivers are tough on wood, 2) screws and draw bolts need to be properly tightened, 3) wood to metal fit should be even all around the mating of stock head and receiver, and 4) rebated wood enclosed by the receiver is a big plus. And don't let the stock head become oil soaked...

My original question was not aimed at identifying any particular model to shy away from, but from wondering what designs have stood the test of time and not split out.

Thanks again.

Another factor could be if the inletted wood was sealed. This could prevent not only wood shrinkage, but oil soaking as well. Using a sealer, and possibly bedding the action appears to be fairly standard during restoration.

It might be tough to come up with a reliable answer as far as design, since all designs are subject to problems if the wood softens and/or shrinks.

The Ithaca SKB's do have a tendency to crack behind the scallops, although the cracks are mostly cosmetic, never seem to go too far. And those are through-bolt guns. Usually keeping the bolt tight does the job.

Someone mentioned BSS earlier. I can't recall ever having seen one of those with a cracked stock.

I think the winner is still going to be the Ruger Red Label Waterfowler.

Hands down.


Best,
Ted

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One of mine came this way. So I had the head glass bedded and have since put approximately 1000 skeet loads through it, with no ill effect whatsoever.

Er, which? BSS or SKB?

There are two guns out there with the BSS label stuck on them-a boxlock and a sidelock. I don't know if they built enough of the sidelocks for us to get a clear picture of how often the stocks crack. But, James Flinn seems to think they are inletted quite well.

Best,
Ted

SKB

Most people don't think of the BSS Sidelock when they think BSS. I believe only around 2,000 made, total. And I agree, Ted, that we just don't see enough of those to get a handle on how often they're likely to crack behind the locks. The BSS Standard and Sporter boxlocks, however . . . you go to a decent-sized gun show and chances are pretty good there will be one or two. (Same for Ithaca SKB's.) Both very popular guns; both deservedly so. It's a darned shame the Japanese got out of the sxs business.

Baikal IZ43 and IZ58s are engineered for mass production, so they have parallel tangs, ie they do not wedge the stock apart, and circular wedge shaped stock cheeks that mate into equally wedge shaped action recesses. Recoild reinforces the fit, squeezing the wood inwards, not outwards.

Good idea on an inexpensive double, but ugly and for most people unacceptable on an upmarket SXS. So the wedge tang rules alond with inevitable cracking losses.