PDA

View Full Version : Forend tip repair


Brian Dudley
09-09-2019, 02:11 PM
This section of the board has not been getting much activity lately. Is nobody out there getting their guns restored???

Here is a contribution in order to try and boost some interest in this subforum.


Back in mid July, I had the opportunity to travel to Portland, ME to take part in a wood repair and touchup class. This class was recommended to me by Dennis Smith (The Stock Dr.) at the Southern this past year. The closest class to me that was scheduled at that time was this one in ME. The other choices within reasonable driving distance were IN and IL.
Now, I find out that there may be one in my area later this year, but oh well... that is how it goes.

Anyway, the class was taught by a great guy who has a whole life full of experience in wood touchup. And he happens to be a "gun guy" as well. He shared that he works on decorative carving of gunstocks as a side thing when we were going around the room and it came to my turn to introduce myself. His eyes lit right up when I shared what I do. We had some great side conversations over the breaks.

The class was mainly geared towards furniture repair and things like that. So some creativity was needed in some areas to try and apply it to the gunstock work. But, I found the two days in class to be packed full of a lot of information that could be useful to me both professionally and personally.

A couple weeks ago I took the first opportunity to use what I learned on this Parker forend. The right side of the tip had been broken off by a drop and the piece was missing. Using the products and techniques that I learned about in that class, I was able to get, what I feel to be, a pretty good repair out of it.

76074

76075

76076

Scott Gentry
09-09-2019, 02:53 PM
Wow what chip????

edgarspencer
09-09-2019, 03:01 PM
Obviously, you were paying attention.

Scott Gentry
09-09-2019, 03:12 PM
trying to pay him a complement, what have I missed?

Scott Gentry
09-09-2019, 03:14 PM
Never mind, reading on phone, dangerous for old eyes.

edgarspencer
09-09-2019, 03:24 PM
trying to pay him a complement, what have I missed?

Yes. Actually I was.

Allen Gill
09-10-2019, 12:18 PM
Would you mind sharing how much time that took to repair? It is outstanding workmanship!

Brian Dudley
09-10-2019, 12:37 PM
Would you mind sharing how much time that took to repair? It is outstanding workmanship!

Maybe cumulative time of an hour or so.

Garry L Gordon
09-10-2019, 12:54 PM
Brian, I'm impressed with your work as you have shared many times with us. This is another example.

Could you give a brief description how this is done?

I had a description from Brad Bachelder once as to how he repaired a stock head that had been pinned. To this day, I can only see the repair because I know it's there. I'm intrigued by all of this.

I appreciate your professionalism and the fact that you continue to learn. It speaks volumes.

Brian Dudley
09-10-2019, 02:21 PM
Could you give a brief description how this is done?

I do not really care to go into detail on the work much, all that I will say is that it is a combination of using the right products and an artistic touch to make it all look as it should.

Daryl Corona
09-10-2019, 02:47 PM
Brian, did you square off or flatten the damaged surface before making the repair? Nice job.

Brian Dudley
09-10-2019, 03:04 PM
Brian, did you square off or flatten the damaged surface before making the repair? Nice job.

Neither.

Ronald Scott
09-10-2019, 03:53 PM
Beautiful work -- even upon close inspection it's almost impossible to see. In fact I'm not sure I can tell except for a very slight change in the grain pattern which may not even be due to the repair. This brings up a philosophical question for collectors: Is it possible for a repair to be done too good?

Ted Hicks
09-11-2019, 03:12 PM
Very nice! You can't tell it was ever damaged. You definitely aced the class!

Buddy Marson
09-11-2019, 05:16 PM
Brian, great job on the forend tip! Dennis has done quite a bit of work for me over the years. Always top drawer! Keep his number handy. A great mentor with decades of experience under his belt.
All the best,
Buddy