Gunstock blanks: how to buy the best

Shooting Industry, Oct, 1990 by Ron Swartley

Finally, check the integrity of the wood. The seller, if he's responsible, will have pointed out any defects. But it won't hurt to check for cracks, knots (not necessarily fatal, but some stockmakers shy away from them), and signs of bark occlusions (where the tree has grown around a soft, pulpy area). Voids in the wood are a common defect too, but usually you don't find them until you start cutting.

If all the above aspects have been looked at, and the blank looks like it has potential for your particular needs, you could start talking price. With the "plain Jane" blank there isn't likely to be much argument. As little as $20 might buy such a piece of gun handle, or stock pattern wood. For high grade pieces, however, it will be different. What you pay, in the end, is what you're willing to pay. Those in the trade know of cases where blanks have gone for $2,000 or more. But such prices should be considered marketplace aberrations. "Personally I wouldn't pay more than $750 to $800 for the best blank I ever laid eyes on," Goens says, and he probably speaks for most customizers. But still, funny things can happen at a gun show where there is a lot of pretty wood on display, and where a lot of eager buyers are looking at it. (There are even some blank "collectors," who admire the wood for itself, and never plan on turning it into a gunstock. It can be like buying fine art in a way, with the value placed on a given piece dependent on what an individual deems it to be. Generally, a respectable piece of claro walnut can be obtained for $100 to $300, with thin-shelled English costing somewhat more.

And where do you go to find top grade gunstock wood?

One of the best places is gun shows, as mentioned. From small local shows to classics like the American Guild of Gun Craftsmen, you're bound to see raw stock wood on display, and in some variety.

If you want to get closer to the source, you could search out the cutters and distributors of stock blanks near where the wood is cut and dried. In the U.S. this means the north central valley of California primarily. One step removed from the mill is the middleman who buys selected blanks and caters especially to the customer in search of top quality wood. Since he knows what the demands of his customers are, his wood is likely to be better aged, and to have the richness in color and figure customizers like. (See the sidebar for a partial listing of the many stock blank suppliers.)

Some gun shops have a few blanks around too. The fact is, "A good gunstock blank is where you can find it," said the late Joe Oakley -- a California blank supplier of note -- whenever he got to talking about fine gunstock wood.

Another good source is the classified sections of gun publications. Most of the suppliers listed will be happy to furnish details regarding their wood inventories.

Professional stockmakers always have their own supply of blanks around the shop too, some of which are obtainable in a direct sale (guaranteed obtainable if you contract to have a gunstock built). In addition, most stockmakers have at least one "hideout" blank, of exceptional quality, which they're hoarding for that special long gun. On rare occasions one can talk them out of these gems.