Intentional Stock Cracking

[Theodore LeDurt]

As mentioned on a previous post, my DH 12ga straight stock had no cast and a 3 1/16" drop. After a double steam bending session it now has 1/4" cast and 2 3/4" drop at the heel. This is still to much drop as my optimum drop seems to be anywhere between 2 1/2" to 2 1/4".

A friend told me of a famous stocker from Berlin, Wisconsin, who is now deceased, but apparently he would crack the stock in the wrist, through the checkering, and had a system of setting the stock to the proper measurements and then repaired the stock so completely the crack was not visible and the stock was actually stronger in the wrist area.

Tonight I found a stock man who is an experienced stock wood splicer and he is willing to do my stock, I just wondered if anyone else had tried this and if you were happy with outcome? Also did the stock have clean lines after the reset?

Thanks.