Different wood for pistol stocks

[KNeilson]

I live in BC and have often wondered about Arbutus, or Madrone wood. Anybody from here tried this?  A little info from Wikipedia...  Regards    Kerry
The wood is durable and has a warm color after finishing, so it has become more popular as a flooring material, especially in the Pacific Northwest. An attractive veneer can also be made from the wood. However, because large pieces of madrona lumber warp severely and unpredictably during the drying process, it is not used much. Its most important use is as firewood, since it is a very hard and dense wood that burns long and hot, surpassing even oak in this regard.

[Jim Kibler]

Madrone has been used for gunstock wood.  Ron Scott has used burl madrone on at least jaeger rifle that I"m aware of.

[Old Ford2]

Here in Canada we have many local trees that make fine wood for gunstocks ( pistol)
Apple, cherry,maple,elm,walnut,ash,birch,ironwood,mountain ash,honey locust, and black locust, just to name a few.
Locust is deep brown red in color, way too heavy for a long gun but great for pistol.
What more could you want?
Fred

[KNeilson]

Old Ford2, great info. I looked up some images of the woods you are suggesting. Now I know have a small Honey locust in the front yard, and recognize the imagery for Black locust also, actually like to smell the blossoms in the spring when I see them. However I am unaware of what you may be terming as ironwood. I always thought it was Lignum vitae (tropical).  Care to provide a Species as opposed to nickname?

[Vomitus]

Kerry,
Some ironwood here (BC) is also called Ocean Spray.It's more of a bush then a tree. Real hard though.
Holodiscus discolor
Bow and arrow wood,sorry.

[WadePatton]

Here, "ironwood" is  Hophornbeam, Ostrya virginiana

[Old Ford2]

Reply to: KNeilson
Ironwood in north eastern North America can also be called Blue-Beech tech. name  Carpinus caroliniana
These trees are not very big, you have to rely on the shape of the trunk to get the pistol contour.
However the wood blank does dry well and fast.
I hope this helps.
Fred

[KNeilson]

Fred, Wade, LB, thx Guys, good info. As per the OP, using local wood other than Maple/ Walnut  I find of interest. LB, I have seen "Ocean Spray" used for utensils, pretty looking stuff. You can see how it was named as it seems to like being right on the shoreline. I know of a few Arbutus stumps around some new building around here, I`ll have to keep my eyes peeled on them...I`ll update when/if I can get some sawn up. regards...Kerry