The North Star Duplicator: Setting Up to carve Gunstocks

[Woodhunter]

Photo server crashed, deleted this post.

[Stickerbush]

Nice

[CAMPMEAT]

Very, very cool...

[HntnFsh]

That is incredible! Looks like a whole lot of know how involved. That stock is going to be amazing! I think back about some of the figured maple I cut up for firewood back in my wood cutting days and it almost makes me want to cry. Young and dumb!

[KFhunter]

wow that is cool, thanks for taking the time to write this up.

[RadSav]

Very nice.  That is a very nice looking sanding cradle.  Should be the cats meow as a checkering cradle too

[HUNTaHOLIC5]

Very cool write up! Thanks for sharing

[huntandjeep]

Wow . What would a ball park cost be for that maple  ?

[Biggerhammer]

Wow . What would a ball park cost be for that maple  ?

Bust out your wallet, it may rain Savages all day for 399.00 but when it comes to classy wood and quality stock work. You pay to play!

[Woodhunter]

Wow . What would a ball park cost be for that maple  ?

Bust out your wallet, it may rain Savages all day for 399.00 but when it comes to classy wood and quality stock work. You pay to play!

So it is 5:30 AM Sunday, got a chuckle out of BigHammer's comment.

Yea, good blanks are money in the bank.  Mine are for special projects and "savings" for the future when money gets tight, don't plan on selling any soon. 

Just to let guys know that may want a blank, I am not in the stock making business for either carving for others or selling blanks, all this stuff is for me to play with on my personal guns.  Besides I do not have a FFL or  Business License, if I worked on stuff for anyone the ATF would be hot on my hide.

I will throw up some pics later today showing where the blanks came from.  "A long long time ago in a place far far away".

[HntnFsh]

You have to have an FFL to make stocks? Sheesh!

[Fl0und3rz]

About the best post on here, ever!

[GBoyd]

That is some real quality work. You've got me thinking of some maple, yew, and madrona I've got in a shed. I hadn't thought about making a stock, but maybe it would be a fun project.

Do you happen to know any resources on stock building for us guys without that specialized equipment?

[Woodhunter]

You have to have an FFL to make stocks? Sheesh!

Nope, not to make stocks.   But to retain a firearm for stock fitting requires a FFL.

If a firearm is retained overnight or longer for work by a gunsmith, stockmaker, or similar craftsman a FFL is required and the firearm must be logged in on an approved firearms transaction form.  And the disposition must be logged out when the firearm is returned to the owner.

And with the new Washington law, even if a person drops off a firearm at another person's facility the transaction must be recorded. Thanks, you liberal I-5 corridor voters!!!

All the rule and regulations take away the fun of working on guns.   Not worth the hassle for me.  So I just work on my personal guns.

[Woodhunter]

That is some real quality work. You've got me thinking of some maple, yew, and madrona I've got in a shed. I hadn't thought about making a stock, but maybe it would be a fun project.

Do you happen to know any resources on stock building for us guys without that specialized equipment?

Ed Lapour    Bremerton      Ed is a high end custom builder, he has a duplicator but may have a long backlog. 

Paul Dressel  Yakima   Paul sells stock blanks and also has a duplicating service


Both have web sites, google.

There are others in WA but can't think of them now.      Average cost:   $200 low end and higher, depending on the reputation and skill of the guy and if he has a pattern.   Add more if the gent is a guild member.

[Damnimissed]

What if after its all set up, I push the power button for the machine. Then, when it's done, I could pay you back that money that I borrowed from you that one time, remember?

[Biggerhammer]

Ed Lapour is going to work over a recently acquired 7x57.

[Woodhunter]

Ed Lapour is going to work over a recently acquired 7x57.

Mmm Ed does very good work.   Below is a 7x57 he stocked around 15 years ago

[257 Wby Mag]

Very cool woodhunter! I appreciate the fact you still run beautiful wood, thanks for taking the time to post pics...

[Angry Perch]

Way cool. I imagine you can build up a pattern stock with glass, Bondo, etc? I have a Mannlicher Shoenauer 1903 that had the stock *censored*ized in a former life. A dream is to some day restock it with a full length Mannlicher stock.

[Woodhunter]

Way cool. I imagine you can build up a pattern stock with glass, Bondo, etc? I have a Mannlicher Shoenauer 1903 that had the stock *censored*ized in a former life. A dream is to some day restock it with a full length Mannlicher stock.

I use plain grain maple when making a pattern from scratch.  If I run across a ready made stock that I like, I use it for a pattern and often make modifications.   Bondo is the pattern makers friend!

Here I am modifying the pistol grip on a wood pattern stock.  Note the can of Bondo on the bench.  For this grip extension I screwed a piece of 3/4" thick oak on to the bottom of the pistol grip then faired in with Bondo.





In the photo below, the top stock is a factory with a cheek piece glued on and an extension screwed on the butt.  Three patterns below are derivations of the top stock, each with a different pistol grip arrangement to fit large hands and to place the hand further back on the stock to avoid finger damage from the trigger guard on heavy recoil rifles.  The bottom one is sort of extreme but works nicely on a hard kicking 500 Jeffery. Purists and Guild members do not like the arrangement of all of the patterns but they sure make shooting those big nastys easier on the shooter.  They also have cast off.

[Ridge Hunter]

That is pretty cool, thank you for sharing!

[Woodhunter]

Very nice.  That is a very nice looking sanding cradle.  Should be the cats meow as a checkering cradle too

It was my checkering cradle.  Made another checkering cradle from a discarded wood lathe:



Stock may be rotated 360 degrees and locked in any position, the cradle both tilts and swivels a full 360 and may be locked in any position.  I usually clamp it in the big wood vise on the bench but sometimes remove the wood block and bolt it directly to the bench.

[Dan-o]

Excellent thread.

Thank you for sharing.

[RadSav]

Very nice.  That is a very nice looking sanding cradle.  Should be the cats meow as a checkering cradle too

It was my checkering cradle.  Made another checkering cradle from a discarded wood lathe:

Oh My Goodness!  That thing is sweet.  I think I need one of those!! 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I recently sent off my rifle for to have the stock duplicated.  It was much more affordable than a custom made stock.  Are you setting up a business? 

[Woodhunter]

I recently sent off my rifle for to have the stock duplicated.  It was much more affordable than a custom made stock.  Are you setting up a business?

No!  Retired and too old and grumpy to work for a living. 

I just enjoy working on guns and doing stock work.  After many years of having to work, raising kids, all the usual stuff most guys go through, I can finally do what I want to when I want to.

[runamuk]

Beautiful

[Woodhunter]

Scroll up to page 1 for an edit and more photos of pattern stocks.

[Biggerhammer]

I recently sent off my rifle for to have the stock duplicated.  It was much more affordable than a custom made stock.  Are you setting up a business?

No!  Retired and too old and grumpy to work for a living. 

I just enjoy working on guns and doing stock work.  After many years of having to work, raising kids, all the usual stuff most guys go through, I can finally do what I want to when I want to.

PERFECT! I do what I want...