Stock Blanks
I've seen a number of web sites offering a large selection of grade and wood type of both rifle and shotgun blanks for sale.
When I had Lawrence Del Grego do a total restoration (it really needed it) on my grandfather's 16 ga. VH, Lawrence asked me (over the phone) what grade of wood did I want. I just said (being new to the restoration game) "Lawrence, I want something with some decent grain in it, something better than field grade but less then the highest grade, you pick it out, I trust your judgement." About a month later Lawrence called me and said he had picked out a nice piece of wood from a recent suppply he had received, that I would like it etc. I said fine".
Now that I've had a chance to get 'spoiled" by the likes of Spencer, Purtill, Frey, Roemig and Supsonski I have a little more education and healthy respect for the quality of the wood they have on their high grade Parkers.
Is it fairly common in this business of restoration and stock making and especially when you're dealing with someone long distance to have the stockmaker select the wood in the particular grade and type you may specify? How common is it for the customer to purchase his/her own blank and furnish it to the stockmaker? Warranty issues aside for the moment on customer supplied blanks, is this a common practice for customers to supply their own blanks?
How reliable are these independent companies on the web that offer stock blanks? I'd hate to buy a blank that looks terrific but has not been 'cured' sufficiently and only cracks down the road.
By the way, I was very satisfied with Lawrene's selection.
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