Better wood on air rifles

[Hold_Over]

I have heard all the reasons for why wood stocks are less available, less exciting in figure etc. From old growth availability, to high costs of timber etc. Yet every time look at PBs there is reason to doubt these ideas. Henry arms .22 octagon. This is a production rifle, not limited, or deluxe. Sub 500$, and yet the wood shows significantly better character than most AGs in the same price range.

 

[357cal]

I also prefer a quality wooden stock over any plastic variety. If I had the woodworking skills, I would craft my own.

 

[Hold_Over]

I also prefer a quality wooden stock over any plastic variety. If I had the woodworking skills, I would craft my own.

Something I plan to do in the future. I have a piece of walnut waiting for me to get to it. I own a few plastic stocks for their all weather attributes, but would like more options that look great hanging on the wall when not in use.

 

[kayaker]

That has better character than my high price Kalibr guns in the ($1800) price range. The gun above would be hard to hunt with in my water log state (westside), it would be a wall hanger.

 

[Hold_Over]

That has better character than my high price Kalibr guns in the ($1800) price range. The gun above would be hard to hunt with in my water log state (westside), it would be a wall hanger.

It can't be production costs. I doubt this Henry with an octagon barrel is cheaper to produce than than say a Diana 48 at a similar price point. Yet the furniture is much higher grade.

 

[CO2]

Wood has been used for hundreds of years, strong and versatile, they even used to make ships and aeroplanes out of it. But now we're living in the 21st Century.

 

[Hold_Over]

Wood has been used for hundreds of years, strong and versatile, they even used to make ships and aeroplanes out of it. But now we're living in the 21st Century.

Indeed we are....which means cnc is available tech to go from square wood to a gun stock saving on labor and production costs. Lasers cut checkering. So either manufacturers are reaping the benefits of selling you cheap timber for maximum profit....or the market is hot for everyone who thinks every rifle should have the looks, plastic, and abundant number of pic rails so they can pretend they have an M4.

 

[c_m_shooter]

I have heard all the reasons for why wood stocks are less available, less exciting in figure etc. From old growth availability, to high costs of timber etc. Yet every time look at PBs there is reason to doubt these ideas. Henry arms .22 octagon. This is a production rifle, not limited, or deluxe. Sub 500$, and yet the wood shows significantly better character than most AGs in the same price range. View attachment 469606

I had a Marlin with one of those highly figured stocks. It was just painted on somehow. When nicked, the wood underneath was plain white. No grain and no way make it match the original.

 

[Hold_Over]

I had a Marlin with one of those highly figured stocks. It was just painted on somehow. When nicked, the wood underneath was plain white. No grain and no way make it match the original.

Interesting...would be curious to see pics of something like this

 

[c_m_shooter]

Interesting...would be curious to see pics of something like this

Sorry, traded it off. I had inletted it to fit another rifle, so the difference was obvious. I had to be very carful how I approached the project,.

 

[Spartan]

Some of the most stunning and highly figured wood stocks I have seen have been on airguns, not PBs. Maybe it's just where you look.

I'll also add that wood stocks are falling out of favor on all fronts, not just airguns. A lot of the latest high-end PB offerings aren't even coming in a wood option. Many users seem to prefer the lightweight and durable synthetic stocks, so the manufacturers are obliging.

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

I also much prefer a nice piece of walnut. And it is a shame that it's hard to get a decent piece. I know plenty of guys wouldn't mind paying a premium, myself included. This is probably the nicest piece I have. Gary Cane made this one for me from a shotgun blank. I couldn't find a replacement pistol stock anywhere since mine was stolen from storage. Thieves are dumber than dirt.

Second nicest is probably a "select" stock from custom stocks UK for my hw50. Pics don't do it justice.

Basically, if you want decent wood, you almost have to get a custom stock.

 

[Hold_Over]

Some of the most stunning and highly figured wood stocks I have seen have been on airguns, not PBs. Maybe it's just where you look.

At what price point are you referring to? We're these factory, or custom stocks?

 

[Spartan]

The Daystate Huntsman series comes to mind. So on the premium price side. Their standard wood stocks are quite nice, but they sometimes offer premium options for their stocks that are of hand-picked wood with incredible figure. Some of the Daystate limited edition runs have also had incredible stocks. The Buckmaster being one in particular that I recall. Even though these were premium, I would not consider them to be custom.

 

[karl_h]

I have heard all the reasons for why wood stocks are less available, less exciting in figure etc. From old growth availability, to high costs of timber etc. Yet every time look at PBs there is reason to doubt these ideas. Henry arms .22 octagon. This is a production rifle, not limited, or deluxe. Sub 500$, and yet the wood shows significantly better character than most AGs in the same price range. View attachment 469606

The average Henry off the line does not look that good, that is a marketing picture. Of course of few random ones come close, but on average no where near that nice. That said, Henry's standard stock is better than most by a long shot, they source the wood in america, buy direct, and make there own. Only damaged stuff gets tossed, the rest of the raw wood they buy is used, so you get some nice and some not as nice. They don't pick and choose other than setting aside the best of the best for specials, just cut the blanks, dry, toss damaged ones and go. Every now and then someone hits the jackpot and gets a really good one.

Producers that want to make nice stocks and better, buy nice blanks. Now you have a ton of middlemen in the picture, cost goes up exponentially. Take a 100 year old walnut tree and not even close to 10% of the wood would be heirloom grade, and in drying a percentage of that is lost. Even then, when a producer gets that blank, unseen flaws show up in a percentage when cutting and they are scrap. A truly great walnut blank costs and arm and a leg. The one on the henry picture is just a nice stock, not an heirloom grade.

 

[Hold_Over]

The average Henry off the line does not look that good, that is a marketing picture. Of course of few random ones come close, but on average no where near that nice. That said, Henry's standard stock is better than most by a long shot, they source the wood in america, buy direct, and make there own. Only damaged stuff gets tossed, the rest of the raw wood they buy is used, so you get some nice and some not as nice. They don't pick and choose other than setting aside the best of the best for specials, just cut the blanks, dry, toss damaged ones and go. Every now and then someone hits the jackpot and gets a really good one.

Producers that want to make nice stocks and better, buy nice blanks. Now you have a ton of middlemen in the picture, cost goes up exponentially. Take a 100 year old walnut tree and not even close to 10% of the wood would be heirloom grade, and in drying a percentage of that is lost. Even then, when a producer gets that blank, unseen flaws show up in a percentage when cutting and they are scrap. A truly great walnut blank costs and arm and a leg. The one on the henry picture is just a nice stock, not an heirloom grade.

Exactly....and many an air rifle would be stepped up with just a nice stock. I am not looking for heirloom grade on the average rifle, but something with some figure and variation in grain would be good. I used the Henry rifle to show that if you want to do better as a manufacturer other have found a way to do it without astronomical pricing.

 

[thumper]

I have heard all the reasons for why wood stocks are less available, less exciting in figure etc. From old growth availability, to high costs of timber etc. Yet every time look at PBs there is reason to doubt these ideas. Henry arms .22 octagon. This is a production rifle, not limited, or deluxe. Sub 500$, and yet the wood shows significantly better character than most AGs in the same price range. View attachment 469606

I've never seen a Henry in the store with wood anywhere near that good.

 

[crowski]

Oh ya, you think air rifles have shyt stocks. This is a Weihrauch rim fire. All my Weihrauch’s put together wouldn’t score near this.

Pictures say 1000 words. I’d pay extra to have this put on my springers. Crow

 

[Hold_Over]

Oh ya, you think air rifles have shyt stocks. This is a Weihrauch rim fire. All my Weihrauch’s put together wouldn’t score near this. View attachment 469655View attachment 469656Pictures say 1000 words. I’d pay extra to have this put on my springers. Crow

I don't imagine this fits the price point I was referring to...but it is good looking.
This right here is what I am saying....

Diana Model 48 | Spring-piston Air Rifle | Airgun Depot

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Henry H001t Lever Frontier Octagon 22lr

The popular Henry Lever action is now available in a frontier version with a 20" octagonal barrel, fully adjustable semi buckhorn rear sight, beaded front sight and metal band. Features the famous smooth Henry action and American walnut stock. The receiver is already grooved to accomodate a...

www.smga.com

If ag companies want to have better looking wood, they could. By the cherry picked advertising photo idea....this diana 48 is the best you can expect if you buy 1....boring.

 

[DeanB]

CZ rimfires used to have some of the prettiest walnut of any factory rim fires, I sold the stock off one I had for more then I paid for the rifle and bought a plain jane one to put on it to squirrel hunt with.. Prettiest piece of walnut that wasn't custom that Ive ever seen on a production gun.
Really nice walnut is getting scarcer by the year, most really nice big walnuts with really crazy grain have been logged out for a long time.