Gamo used some very nice beech on their Royal and Stutzen stocks. As did BSA on their Stutzens
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Walnut vs Beech for gun stocks
- Thread starter Bear-of-Grayling
- Start date
I’m quite sure as a young man I read an article written and published by Dr. beeman. He extolled all of the virtues of beech versus any other wood for use as an air gun stock. This was from a mass production standpoint. BeechIs an excellent stable inexpensive hardwood. it grows fast. Has been used for hundreds of years in Europe to put on military rifles.
Some percentage of beech is much better looking than others. You can say the same thing for Walnut.
As a wood collector and lover for years, walnut can vary greatly in its weight. Look at side-by-side shotguns of the same make and configurations, the weight of the wood will vary over a quarter pound.
Here are four stocks comprised of 2 Koa, 2 Walnut Ebony and Rosewood tips. I just received them back from the lady who did the checkering. She said that Koa was brutal to work with. I understand it’s quite hard, but it is nowhere on the list of hardness that you guys have above.
I love beautiful wood!
mike
Some percentage of beech is much better looking than others. You can say the same thing for Walnut.
As a wood collector and lover for years, walnut can vary greatly in its weight. Look at side-by-side shotguns of the same make and configurations, the weight of the wood will vary over a quarter pound.
Here are four stocks comprised of 2 Koa, 2 Walnut Ebony and Rosewood tips. I just received them back from the lady who did the checkering. She said that Koa was brutal to work with. I understand it’s quite hard, but it is nowhere on the list of hardness that you guys have above.
I love beautiful wood!
mike
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I’m quite sure as a young man I read an article written and published by Dr. beeman. He extolled all of the virtues of beech versus any other wood for use as an air gun stock. This was from a mass production standpoint. BeechIs an excellent stable inexpensive hardwood. it grows fast. Has been used for hundreds of years in Europe to put on military rifles.
Some percentage of beech is much better looking than others. You can say the same thing for Walnut.
As a wood collector and lover for years, walnut can vary greatly in its weight. Look at side-by-side shotguns of the same make and configurations, the weight of the wood will vary over a quarter pound.
Here are four stocks comprised of 2 Koa, 2 Walnut Ebony and Rosewood tips. I just received them back from the lady who did the checkering. She said that Koa was brutal to work with. I understand it’s quite hard, but it is nowhere on the list of hardness that you guys have above.
I love beautiful wood!
mike
Flintsack very nice jewerly. Great taste. Love your designs. Send some pics to Air Arms please, I’m not a fan of the lillies. Enjoy Crow
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Expensive hobby I am afraid.. Two of those from 1985 have never been shot with, and never will be, as long as they are part of my collection.
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Here are four stocks comprised of 2 Koa, 2 Walnut Ebony and Rosewood tips. I just received them back from the lady who did the checkering. She said that Koa was brutal to work with. I understand it’s quite hard, but it is nowhere on the list of hardness that you guys have above.
I love beautiful wood!
mike
I thought I posted this earlier. That is some beautiful wood, prettier than most of the collectibles we see here from time to time. I'd be worried about carrying artwork like that to the field though.
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I love nice stocks but they are problematic. I bought an HW30 Urban Hunter with the silver-black composite stock. For the life of me, I don't want to even take it outside. I'm so worried about putting a ding in it.
My dad was a big camera buff. He told the story of buying a new Leica M3 camera in the 1950's. He found that his picture quality dropped with the new camera. A good friend noticed and said, 'give me your camera'. He proceeded to put a big scratch in the case with a key. He handed it back and said 'here, I fixed it for you.' My father was appalled, but miraculously, his pictures improved after that. He said later that you cannot master something if you're afraid of damaging it.
My dad was a big camera buff. He told the story of buying a new Leica M3 camera in the 1950's. He found that his picture quality dropped with the new camera. A good friend noticed and said, 'give me your camera'. He proceeded to put a big scratch in the case with a key. He handed it back and said 'here, I fixed it for you.' My father was appalled, but miraculously, his pictures improved after that. He said later that you cannot master something if you're afraid of damaging it.
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I love good wood, but, like JayJay said, I don't want to damage a nice finish. All my guns come with synthetic stocks now, just saves me the hassle of that first scratch.
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If I cant enjoy its beauty, why have it ?? In my opinion the syn stocks look like cheap kids toys, I much perfer my Walnut stocks and I dont really see nany dings or bangs in them !!! My first TX200 MK1 was shot for 25 years in competition before I retired and stupidly sold it.....one of its biggest selling points was the " beautifull" walnut stock !!
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Total agreement. Granted the first few handling marks are disappointing. But after a while the whole rifle becomes a thing of beauty. Like a old Mauser or vintage rifle that shows the love and joy it has seen. Nicer than when new. A real heirloom. Like a fine old piece of furniture. Never happen with a synthetic stock.
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When it comes time for refinishing Walnut is in my opinion is much easier. Getting an even stain on Beech takes a lot of work and a little luck.
gvajack
gvajack
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I can’t tell you what’s better from a strength or performance aspect but walnut is plenty strong enough and more beautiful by far.
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There is a reason why walnut has been the wood of choice for hundreds of years. It is very durable in my opinion it is far superior to Beech. Even the military used walnut because of its durability. Beech would have saved a good bit of money over walnut but they specified walnut.
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