Author Topic: What to do with a stock blank (Read 4347 times)

bones92 · « **on:** February 02, 2017, 04:16:07 PM »

I have a very old stock blank from Dunlap Woodcraft, back when they were in Vienna, VA. It's curly maple. I have visions of making a rifle someday, but I have never made one before, and I think it would be wise to do a kit instead.

Should I send it off to be carved and inletted, or just sell it and go with a Kibler kit when I'm ready to tackle this? It will be a few years before I have time to do anything.

smylee grouch · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2017, 04:30:29 PM »

If you have it shaped and inlet for a barrel you might want to consider buying the barrel also and store it with the barrel inlet and left in the stock in case the stock would want to warp.

EC121 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2017, 04:34:15 PM »

A) If you like the wood, put it away for later. Prices aren't going down. You can buy parts a few at a time.

B) Kibler will have another model out later this year. Wait and see what it is. He will use your wood if requested.

Eric Krewson · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2017, 04:56:44 PM »

If you supply the wood for a kibler kit you get $60 off the total price. If you have a really nice piece of wood this would be a good way to utilize it.

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2017, 05:57:33 PM »

Quote from: Eric Krewson on February 02, 2017, 04:56:44 PM

If you supply the wood for a kibler kit you get $60 off the total price. If you have a really nice piece of wood this would be a good way to utilize it.

The only problem with that is the high cost of shipping the stock blank. If its a fairly plain stock you probably will be better off just to let Jim supply the stock.

I have bee shocked at the recent increase in shipping costs of everything, not just stock blanks.
Dennis

sqrldog · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2017, 06:23:34 PM »

Bones
another option would be to send the wood to Jim Chambers and ask them to use your wood in one of their kits. Providing they have a style you like and the wood is suitable for them to use. Years ago they used a piece of my wood in a Virginia style rifle and it worked out well. If interested contact Chambers you'll find that they're great folks to work with. They also have instructional videos to assist you and occasionally have a hands on class. While not a snap together kit Chamber's kit are reasonably easy to finish into a fine flintlock rifle or fowler. There will be some lead time if your experience is similar mine but as you stated you're not in a hurry. Tim Cosby

bones92 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2017, 06:39:34 PM »

I'm not particularly attached to this blank. I don't know how "nice" it is... how do you really tell with a blank? I seem to recall seeing where people have wetted the surface to show the grain and figure.

It has a sketch of a stock in pencil on it already.... not sure, but I think it's a Lancaster or early Penn style. Not that the blank is limited to whatever is sketched in pencil...

rich pierce · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2017, 06:48:01 PM »

Hard is nice. Soft is not. Take some chisel cuts where you have excess to see how clean and shiny it cuts with a very sharp chisel. Take a stabbing in letting cut as though you were in letting a barrel lug. Does it crush or cut? If the wood is soft it will take much longer to inlet a barrel because you can only take a smidgeon of depth at a time b

deepcreekdale · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2017, 08:05:34 PM »

I vote with EC 121. Keep it. Store it properly and it will just get better. Go ahead and get a kit to learn the basics if you are more comfortable with that for your first one. I bet very few on this forum ever stop at just one gun. The whole point of doing quality work is to do the next one even better. So, I would guess in your future is a very nice gun you will build from this blank. As others mentioned, wood is not getting cheaper or easier to find.

bones92 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2017, 08:14:25 PM »

The problem is that I don't have a shop or shed to store things like this. It's supposed to be a nice curly maple, should be long enough for a 42" barrel.

Curious what it might be worth.

deepcreekdale · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2017, 08:21:48 PM »

Value on curly maple is highly variable. Does it still have any markings on it? Sometimes suppliers assign a number from 1 to 5 or 7. Unfortunately there is no standard system for this. If you have a friend with a planer you could remove just enough to see the curl, then compare it to the descriptions in TOTW, Muzzle Loaders Builders Supply or Dunlaps and see what they are charging. Or, stick it under your bed!

bones92 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 02, 2017, 09:13:18 PM »

MARKED S3 by Dunlap, I assume. It's right next to their stamp. 57" from heel to front.

I called them to inquire, and the lady said "oh my, that's an old stock... we haven't been in Vienna, VA for about 25 years".

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #12 on:** February 02, 2017, 10:01:18 PM »

Yep, you can look at the price and know that one has been around for awhile

Dennis

rich pierce · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2017, 10:01:34 PM »

Ask Dunalp what their S3 maple is going for. I'd guess around $120.

bones92 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2017, 11:42:38 PM »

Rich... I called them. You're right!

Anyway, I will probably move this to the Classifieds folder, as I seriously don't know if I'll ever have the means to make something of it.

longcruise · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2017, 11:47:14 PM »

Looks like you bought that for $40.00 ? If so, hang onto it. Your getting a good return on your money no matter what you do with it. However, if it's truly inconvenient to store it I'll give you $50.00 for it 😈

Dphariss · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2017, 07:33:34 PM »

Quote from: bones92 on February 02, 2017, 04:16:07 PM

I have a very old stock blank from Dunlap Woodcraft, back when they were in Vienna, VA. It's curly maple. I have visions of making a rifle someday, but I have never made one before, and I think it would be wise to do a kit instead.

Should I send it off to be carved and inletted, or just sell it and go with a Kibler kit when I'm ready to tackle this? It will be a few years before I have time to do anything.

Keep it for a future project, it does not eat anything or needs shoes or jeans.. Make the kit and then use the blank for the next project. OR have Kibler use it for your kit if he will profile it for you.

Dan

Bob Roller · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2017, 07:52:58 PM »

Quote from: bones92 on February 02, 2017, 04:16:07 PM

I have a very old stock blank from Dunlap Woodcraft, back when they were in Vienna, VA. It's curly maple. I have visions of making a rifle someday, but I have never made one before, and I think it would be wise to do a kit instead.

Should I send it off to be carved and inletted, or just sell it and go with a Kibler kit when I'm ready to tackle this? It will be a few years before I have time to do anything.

For the money involved,the Kibler Kit would make more sense to me. If you've never made a scratch built from the blank
long rifle you will find it's labor intensive. I looked at Jim's kits at the CLA show last August and think $1000 is a bargain.

Bob Roller

WadePatton · « **Reply #18 on:** February 03, 2017, 07:58:03 PM »

The longer it has been cut, the more stable it will be. Older wood is preferred by many and myself. Old wood has been through more temp/humidity changes and has less shrinkage left in it. I'd hang on to it, unless it's soft-as Rich spoke above.

Eric Krewson · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2017, 11:34:52 PM »

It has to be 62" for a Kibler kit, yours is a little short.

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Author Topic: What to do with a stock blank (Read 4347 times)