Walnut

[Tommy Bruce]

I may be going to look at a slab of walnut today.  One that I could possibly get 4-6 stocks out of. Is there anything I should look for in terms of quality & weather it would make good stocks? I'm not overly concerned about figure as it will likely be used for simply fowling pieces. It is 3" thick, 18" wide and 12' long.

[PPatch]

Check the ends of the slab for excessive cracking, anything over about six inches, and signs of checking (grain separation) along its length. Is it straight, or reasonably so, warped, cupped? Has it been properly dried? If you have a template for the fowler take it with you and try and determine how many stocks you can expect it to yield, and how the grain will run.

dave

[Tommy Bruce]

Thanks Dave that's a big help.

[Goo]

I look for curvature in the grain that will follow through the wrist area of the stock.  I have found it difficult to find unless one end of the slab is close to the bottom of the tree, I also prefer the center cut (1/4 sawn) .    The straight grain portions will make a nice cabinet to store the rifles after you make them.

[Joe S]

Walnut can be too soft for gunstocks.  Grain through the wrist and hardness would be my main criteria.

[Mike Brooks]

Make sure you're not buying butternut.

[Dennis Glazener]

Walnut can be too soft for gunstocks.  Grain through the wrist and hardness would be my main criteria

Maybe but sure has been a lot if long rifles and half stocks made with Walnut stocks!
Dennis

[L. Akers]

Quarter sawn slab will be the most stable.

[Tommy Bruce]

Thanks guys. Looks like I will be making the trip next weekend to check it out.