Good question BRDHNTR. The blank tested at 11% moisture and they called to explain that they prefer the wood to be no more than 9% and that there was a risk that the stock could crack during the milling process due to the higher moisture content. I had to email them a waiver stating I understood the risk and that they would not be liable for replacing the blank if it cracked. I agreed but they waited a couple of months before milling. There were no problems with cracking, just the wrong (straight) grip unfortunately. I am actually going to be delivering the new blank AND the receiver and current stock next Friday and they are going to mill it while I'm there. My sawmill buddy tested the new blank at 11% also so he is keeping it in his kiln as we speak and I'll pick it up on Thursday before my 5 hour road trip to central Missouri. I've read where its best if the wood has dried naturally for years for gunstock work but some of the prices I've seen online for wood with the kind of figure I can get for $50 locally is a little over the top. Besides, I just think it would be pretty cool for this Parker to have a great looking stock made from local walnut. I think I may buy a few blanks with great figure in them and put them up to use a few years from now.
Really looking forward to my visit as I hope to wind up with a better stock by actually letting them see the gun and maybe make sure the LOP is a good fit etc... I will try to post pics of the straight grip stock that Wenig did here in a bit. Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate them.
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