Let's see some wood!

[Larry the Gun Guy]

Yes it does Dean. I think it's a 98-99% gun. Chuck is doing a letter that I hope to get in the next few days. I may drag it along to Las Vegas with me.

[Dean Romig]

Very nice! You're a lucky guy!






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[Dean Romig]

You need to put that one on the table at tha Annual Meeting for the People's Choice Award.





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[B. Dudley]

I sure hope the wrist of that gun has some sort of reinforcement. With figure like that, it is to be like spaghetti.

[Dean Romig]

I would think that crotch grain running straight up through the wrist would make it ultra-strong.
In my experience of splitting firewood these last forty years, crotch grain like that is as tough to split or break across the grain as American Elm is. JMHO





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[B. Dudley]

Crotch grain like that is very soft. The actual grain of that piece of wood is going directly across the stock. Stocks figired like this that i have dealt with in the past have been able to flex the wrist back and forth when the butt is clamped in a vise.

Pieces like this are best used on drawbokt guns.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

Crotch grain like that is very soft.

That is exactly the opposite of my experience.

I think that stock is beautiful and would be proud to own that gun. And I would never concern myself with it being weak in the wrist... Never.






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[B. Dudley]

The number one rule of stock wood layout... straight grain in the wrist.

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

The number one rule of stock wood layout... straight grain in the wrist.

First, that gun is absolutely beautiful. If I shot it, it would be with light loads. I don't imagine that a gun with that amount of originally finish would be shot a lot anyway. I wouldn't if I owned it. Not because of the burl in the wrist but because I wouldn't want to diminish the condition of that gun. It is superb.

But all of the good stock makers make sure that the grain is straight going through the wrist. In fact, if you look at the pictures of the repro wood shown on this thread, you will see burl in the butt but straight through the wrist. This is the way Parker did it as well as all the other makers. Once and a while, you'll see cross grain in the grip, but its rare. The fact that this gun has it doesn't diminish the gun one iota. It is a wonderful gun anyone of us would love to own.

[BRDHNTR]

I'm reminded of the adage that if you can't say anything good, then don't say anything at all.