Too short forestock

[Pete G.]

So I've got this precarve (yeah, yeah, I know) for a 44" barrel and it is about 3/8" too short. I could make a nosecap with about a 3/8" faceplate and come out OK, but I was really wanting to use a hammered one piece cap. I am afraid that if I try to add wood to the front that the additional piece would be pretty thin and very prone to splitting and/or cracking.  Any ideas or suggestions ?

[bob in the woods]

I can't say if it is  "correct" or not, but as long as there was enough stock wood to support the nosecap, I haven't worried about it. On one, I trimmed everything down an extra 1/16th and then glued on a fitted extension, and then wrapped it with a glue saturated piece of 1/16th veneer.  Wrapped it with tape, and next day re-fitted the cap.  Probably over kill.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

If you don't want to cut off the barrel, just go ahead and add a block of wood to the end - use good glue and let it cure well.  then shape it to match, and inlet the nose piece.  It doesn't take much strain and except for the inside of the barrel channel, when it is removed, the joint will be invisible.

[Don Getz]

Pete.........If that were mine, I would glue a piece of wood on and hide it under the nosecap.   If you don't tell anyone,
they'll never know it...............Don

[Odd Fellow]

since its a precarve, it shouldnt have the barrel allthe way inlet yet or have you already finished inleting the tang and barrel, if you havent properly seating the breech should take care of the shortness

[Dave B]

I built a Verner Bucks Co. rifle using a 51" barrel and I ran into the same problem with the stock being just one inch too short. I did as they are suggesting with gluing on a bock of wood and inetting the barrel into it. I used small pins on the oblique sides and two part micro-bed epoxy to secure it.