doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DIY Gunsmithing @ doublegunshop.com Question on DIY Stockmaking: Boxlock vs. Sidelock

My question: Would you say that stock making is easier (Less labor intensive? More forgiving?) with boxlock actions vs sidelock?

Context: I have a few Crescent 12 gauge sidelocks (there’s a longer story behind this).

I've found that it's extremely difficult to find intact Crescent stocks for sale online, so I'm working on carving them myself.

I have a few decent but plain pieces of walnut to use, but I'm starting to feel like this whole endeavor was a big mistake.

I'm a decent hand at carving, but I'm no master woodworker. The sidelock routing and inletting detail is really something else.

Possibly related question: Anyone open to trading 4 sidelocks for one boxlock?
My wife says she's happy to pay Dave the $12 per!

Boxlocks are far easier, best to start with one or something simple like a Winchester 94. I would suggest doing a half dozen simpler actions before attempting to stock a sidelock.

Oh, SKB. How I wish I had joined this forum before I picked up these shotguns.

It's been a real learning experience

Steve is exactly right about a box lock being much easier. But, you can inlet a sidelock if you are determined to do a good job, and are willing to get the tools necessary. My first attempt was to inlet a sidelock into the stock of a custom muzzleloading competition rifle I was building. i used a combination of new high speed center-cutting end mills and a drill press equipped with a two axis cross slide vise. I finished the job with very small hand chisels of various shapes. This is the result. You may be able to see where screw heads bear against the wood. That is intentional.

The inlet:



The lock:



The chisels:

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That looks fantastic! Very clean.

Unfortunately, I don’t have an end mill or a drill press. I have a full set of woodworking rasps, files, and chisels. I should add that I’m doing a straight grip stock which doesn’t help much but is easier than pistol grip I guess.

I hate to say it, but I think what I’m going to have to do for the larger routing is the old “drilling holes and chiseling out the extra” technique. I think I’ll practice on a piece of poplar first. I’ve got time. Today I’m slabbing this walnut crotch I’ve had for 5 years:



It’s got 6 weeks in the kiln before I try anything with it!

The only reason I used the drill press and the new high speed center cutting mills is that I had a drill press already. That was simply a time saving device that allowed me to plunge cut the holes you see. The cross-slide vise allowed me to remove layers of wood at precisely the same depth, in different areas. None of it was totally necessary to build the gun, and as you point out it could have been done with hand tools alone. It's been done many thousands of times that way, and continues to be done that way by some today.

My gun-building mentor at the time was very impressed with my effort and pointed out that he'd never seen anyone leave that little "arrowhead shaped piece of wood" inside the sear leaf spring. I replied that I left it just because I could.

Well, if you lived near me I’d try work work out a trade!

At least now step 1 of 632 is complete. Cut in half at the crotch shows a decent figure. Now to find someone with a big bandsaw!

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After much deliberation and consideration (i.e., my wife told me the correct answer) I have worked out a trade with a local stockmaker: 1 shotgun missing a stock for 1 stock missing a shotgun.