Stock bending

[Breck Gorman]

Mike Orlen bent a Smith for me many years ago. Brought the drop at comb up 3/4” and it stayed. Most won’t attempt an LC Smith, because they crack, or are already cracked.
Danny Patton (retired, shoots on the Parker team at the Southerm most years) bent an unshootable 3” drop at comb Greener hammer gun for me. He brought the drop at comb up an incredible 1 1/2”. It was straight stocked English walnut.
Thin shell English bends easier than American black walnut. Straight stocks bend easier than pistol grips. But wood is unpredictable and you are rolling the dice, because any can crack when bending.
Mike Orlen uses leather straps to pull the heated wood. He has done so many that he can feel the tension on the straps, and knows when to stop.