Walnut Stock Blank Hardness?

[Scott Bumpus]

I am starting my first build from a blank. I have some walnut that I cut and have been seasoning for a little over 10 years now.  My question is how hard does walnut need to be to make a good stock and how do I test it? I was checking the layout on one blank today and the wood seemed quite a bit softer than any maple I have worked with.  Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[rich pierce]

If you don't need to carve it, it can be fairly soft.  Use very sharp thin-edged chisels for inletting on softer wood and don't take too big a bite when stabbing cross-grain (like at the breech) else softer wood crushes (ugly).

[Scott Bumpus]

Thanks rich, I may try a little carving on the blank and see how it does.