Choosing a stock wood

[Kurt]

Standard maple or cherry which will make the darker stock and what is the best way to get each one dark? Thank you

[rich pierce]

Cherry stained with ferric nitrate, (iron saturated aquafortis), will turn black. To get plain maple very dark, use the dye-type stains. Others who have used tannic acid on plain maple can share their results; I haven’t used it. 

[t.caster]

If you want something very dark go with plain maple in my opinion. There are LOT of ways to stain it dark to black!
I wouldn't waste the beauty of cherry by blackening it, IMHO.

[WKevinD]

Plain Maple with tannic acid and ferric nitrate.
As close to black as I could get it.

Kevin

[Kurt]

When I see a curly maple stock with a lot of end grain I see the dark color I want. Just small amounts of the amber straight grain, but that is fancy I assume. I've tried to find pictures but I can't.

This cherry stock I like very much. It is by a builder who goes by pathfinderNC on another forum of which I am not a member. I like it and assume there is some stain involved. Any suggestions on what was done with this stock?

[Bob Gerard]

Hi - yes that is one of my Kibler rifle builds- I’m glad you like it!
I stained the Cherry using alkaline dyes (powdered) that I mixed. I then rubbed it back with a fine 3M pad and final burnishing with paper. Sealed with shellac and finished with paste wax.

[Kurt]

Mr. Gerard, thank you for your reply and the information. After seeing your work I think if I try to build a rifle I will go with cherry in the slim hope I will come close to what you have done.