I recently finished a Parker Reproduction DHE with a piece of walnut from Robert. Yes, I recommend him for wood...especially Black Walnut from the Midwest region. Watts Walnut donated the California English Walnut blank on the ACGG 2017 Bespoke Shotgun project...pictures may be seen on the ACGG Facebook page. (Bespoke because the stock will be made to conform to the dimensions of the buyer. Unashamed promotion by the Project Director!!) Inquiries may be made through the ACGG Executive Director at
www.acgg.org. Craftsmen on the project: Craig Libhart, Ed LaPour, Bruce Farman, Roger Ferrell, Jim Blair, Brian Board, and Gene Simillion.
Bob does not use a kiln. He uses a sweat tent method letting the 100% wet wood shed water quickly within a six month period to get to 40%. All the wood is sticked and turned monthly during this time (or so Robert told me). All air dried under tarps in his yard in MO. After getting them to 40% he brings them inside to dry less quickly and to make sure they are not damaged in any form. The Parker Reproduction DHE wood blank submitted was at 12% when I got it. It was at 12% when I completed the project.
