comb mouldings

[Larry Pletcher]

I've been studying Lancaster mouldings used around the comb.  It seems that many are different side to side.  Is this typical or am I missing something?  I have been looking at Shumway and Kindig.  The moulding that is visible from the top seems symetrical.  As you go down the sides, different carving details are used.  Maybe better to intentionally vary the carving that to try to make both sides identical especially when you can't see both at the same time.  Your thoughts?

Regards,
Pletch

[Acer Saccharum]

The cheek rest side throws off the nose carving at the comb; on the opposite side there is the patchbox. I think it would be nigh impossible to make both sides the same. You have hit the nail on the head in that you can't see both sides at the same time.

I have never seen a gun with PB and cheek rest with perfectly symmetrical carving/moulding. Similar, yes, mirrored, no.

If you have a small cheekpiece and PB, then you might have room to make both patterns very close.

Acer

[flintriflesmith]

I have always viewed the carving in front of the cheek piece as a part of the total design for that side of the stock--meaning it often flows forward toward the sideplate from the cheek.

On some more elaborate rifles the carving also flows up and over the wrist at the comb and down on the patchbox side. I guess I'm saying it can be thought of as all one continuous design with the cheek piece as the point of origin. Certainly this is a huge simplification but it applies to some of the most attractive carving to my eye.

Fowlers, with no cheek piece, tend to have more symmetrical carving that uses the comb as an anchor for the design.

Gary

[Acer Saccharum]

Well said, Gary. Very true about the fowler. I have to amend my database. 

Tom