Curley Maple

[NC_longhunter]

Curious as to where folks would recommend looking for curly maple for gun stocks for flinters? Also, end pieces to turn for powder horns.

Thanks!
mike

[Mark Elliott]

I buy my run of them mill stuff from Dunlaps.   They are probably the best value if you go rummage through their warehouse yourself.   For the best,   I used to go to Freddie Harrison.   I guess you talk to his kids now.   

[gunmaker]

I've been using www.gunstockblanks.com in Las Vegas, NV.  Lots of pretty pic's on his site.  Cecil has more than 30,000 blanks on hand maple & walnut.  Plus he gives a better grade than you end up paying for.  Worth a look.    ...Tom

[Dennis Glazener]

If you order from Dunlap's be you can get a discount for buying 3 or more blanks. Also suggest you ship via "standard post" as opposed to Priority Mail. Most of the time its a big difference in the price of shipping.

Also a good reason to visit one of the Virginia shows (I see you are in NC). Marty Ewing and/or Dunlap usually in attendance, both have plenty of curly maple blanks and NO SHIPPING costs.
Dennis

[Jerry V Lape]

Gunmaker, I haven't gone to Cecil when I am in Las Vegas because his website says the maple he stocks is the western broadleaf which isn't near as dense as curly sugar maple from northern climates.  Has he been stocking curly sugar maple as well? 

[Paddlefoot]

Dunlap's..  Talk to Wayne or Junior and let them know what you are planning that would effect what you need and what grade of wood you want and they will make you happy. I have purchased everything from very plain dense maple to highly figured and they have always delivered better than expected for the money.

[Dphariss]

I would not buy western maple, period.
Taylor has had good luck with the northern stuff. But I have had bad experiences in the past. Some western maple is like pine with curl. If the buyer does not know where it comes from its better to pass.
I use Dunlap or Harrison

Dan

[Acer Saccharum]

sugar maple, sugar maple, that's what i like,
sugar, sugar, sugareee.


Dan, you cracked me up: pine with curl.  Tiger Pine.  Zebra zucchini.

[flehto]

Through the years I've been buying red and sugar maple blanks from  various suppliers, including Harrison, Tiger Hunt, a now defunct supplier in Michigan and Dunlaps.  The last 3 blanks came from Dinlap's ....Wayne actually talked me out of buying {3}  #7s and recommended a #5 and a #4......plus the #7. When they arrived, I was elated at the hardness, grain and curl of all three red maple blanks. Because of the 3 piece discount and the  2 lower grades, the cost of these 3 blanks was minimal. Dunlaps is surely a quality company.....Fred

[tallbear]

My favorite wood supplier is Freddie Harrison whose business is carried on by his family. Over the years I've gotten good wood from both Dunlop's and Tiger Hunt and several other sources. I prefer to buy wood in person ,buying without holding it in my hand has led to disappointment.

I too would stay away from any Western or Broadleaf Maple.Dans description of pine with curl is pretty fitting.It will be very difficult to inlet parts into cleanly and near impossible to carve.


Mitch Yates

[rich pierce]

Taylor Sapergia might be able to comment on the broadleaf maple.  I seem to member it's quite variable in hardness. 

[t.caster]

The last time I bought wood was from Dunlap, three at a time, Wayne was nice enough to email some good pics of a range of stocks, he thought I'd be interested in, to choose from. I picked them out and was more than satisfied with the quality of his curly maple. He says if you aren't satisfied, send it back! I have never had to.

[David R. Pennington]

I've gotten some nice wood from Dunlaps and also from Ed Price. Ed is in Spencer, WV. The rifle I just finished was from one of Ed's blanks. I got a real good price on it because it had some worm holes. They all worked out except for a couple behind the cheek piece. You have to look hard to find them. Plain southern style so I don't mind any way. Real nice curl. I've got a red maple sawed into 3 inch planks stacked out back. Been air drying for 3 years next month. If they work out I'll be set for a while.