Fake curl staining

[JPK]

I'm about to build a rifle using a rather plane piece of maple and would like some tips on adding some false curl to it. I'm told Leman rifles were done that way some times. This will be my third long rifle so I'm a bit green to this type of work, this is a photo of my first one.

[mjm46@bellsouth.net]

Nice rifle! You're not going to tell us that was fake curl, Are you?

[Curtis]

JPK,

Go here and scroll down to the "How Do You Stripe a Leman stock?" section about 3/4 down the page.
http://www.jsbrookslongrifles.com/theclassroom.htm

Curtis

[JPK]

Micah, Thanks and no that's just the way it was. If I could do fake curl like that then I wouldn't bother you fine folks, maybe open a shop called "Fhony Curl Salon"!

Curtis, Thanks for the link! Exactly what I needed.

[greybeard]

There's no subsitute for the real thing.
Just a personal observation.   Bob
 

[Bill of the 45th]

Here's a well applied example of Faux, I mean Fake stripping


Much practice was put forward to accomplish this finished  quality product.

(with tongue in cheek)
It's back, and it ain't going away
Bill

[Black Hand]

In reality, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a plain gun...

[Stophel]

Fake curl has its place.  Some Lehigh (and nearby area) guns had fake curl.  I have seen a late Moll rifle with the obvious remnants of painted on curl (black India Ink).  I'm sure it had a red varnish over top of it, now long gone.

I am SLOWLY working on one myself.  Awaiting a sunny day or two for varnish to dry...    I might not have any more for several months now...

[Daryl]

Here's a bit of Fake Curl history:

Years ago, in the 80's, one of the 'new breed' of black powder gun writers made the statement that all maple curl was fake - in Gun Digest and probably Guns and Junk magazine as well.  I won't say who it was, specifically, just that his initials were, well, hmm - well maybe it should be a secret - except to those who remember as I do. There were two of them then.  John Bairde told me, "don't be too hard on 'em, Daryl, they're on a looooong learning streak".

Come to think of it, aren't we all.

[Dave Dolliver]

While I haven't yet tried it myself, some of the builders in this area have had good results by useing leather dye over a base coat of stain before applying the protective finish coats. 

The important thing is to use a very fine artists' brush for the leather dye and keeping the strips fine and close together without them running into each other.  Also notice that strips don't usually run completely around a stock but only about half way and taper out.

Dave Dolliver

[Kermit]

For one of mine I had Dave Keck pick the plainest piece of rift cut maple he had that would take a 48" barrel. Did dress it up with a nice little piece of birdseye for the patchbox cover.

[westerner]

I cant even imagine why anyone would settle for plain when they could have tiger stripes like this.   

It's a real cool rifle.



         Joe. 

[omark]

thumbs up, westerner.        mark

[bama]

One method I have used on small areas that lacked curl is to use AF applied with the tip of a q-tip randomly over the area before applying any stain to the stock. I then heat the applied AF with a heat gun until the AF is black. Be carefull not to scorch the stock. I then finish staining the stock as usual. The applied stipe will blend in with the rest over the course of finishing. I have never done this to a whole rifle but I think it could be done. I have seen some old violins that I believe were done this way.
I also agree that a plain rifle done well can be very pleasing. Jim kibler posted a rifle a while back that stock had little curl but was a knock your eyes out rifle.

[doulos]

One method I have used on small areas that lacked curl is to use AF applied with the tip of a q-tip randomly over the area before applying any stain to the stock. I then heat the applied AF with a heat gun until the AF is black. Be carefull not to scorch the stock. I then finish staining the stock as usual. The applied stipe will blend in with the rest over the course of finishing. I have never done this to a whole rifle but I think it could be done. I have seen some old violins that I believe were done this way.
I also agree that a plain rifle done well can be very pleasing. Jim kibler posted a rifle a while back that stock had little curl but was a knock your eyes out rifle.

Boy your not kidding. I think I remember that. The thread was about developing a load for a Kibler rifle I believe. Jim Kibler has another gun for sale on the CLA website that has plain wood but the carving is spectacular.