Hi guys,

I felt bad about not getting back to Sylvan about his gunstock issue in a timely manner; but I finally did...I feel like a dummy over it!

I got to thinking about the last of my gunstock and inlay woods, so I took a smoke and a coffee down to the shop and did a little collage of the things that I have left from the old days. I keep the wood on the back inner side of my humador in it's own little climate controlled space...it is all 6-8% moisture content and totally stabilized - some of it I got over 20 yrs ago so the grain is totally "set" and all end-grain is waxed N sealed.

I thought that some of my buddies here might like to take a peak at my private reserve. The stock blanks are easy to identify, and all blanks that look like square blocks are actually full sized and no less than 4" think. The golds are burrel and "flame quilted" maple...the browns are English and Clario Walnut of which some are burrel and some are "burrel with flame" - there are some shotgun or 2 piece stock sets! I feel like a proud dad showing off pics of my kids...LOL

Sorry about the big picture file...I know it might load slow for some of you but if I compressed it anymore the resolution just went to crap...sorry guys...but it IS worth the wait if you are interested (IMHO).


-Curtis

Nice Curtis! You are a true jack (master) of all trades!

Maybe we can talk about a clear coat on my 350, or should I just wax/polish the stock every so often? It's getting to look a little dull lately and I thought maybe something more permanent might work. I want a better shine to it maybe like some of my firearms. The silicone cloth can only do so much

I'll take a look at the stock when it gets here! I don't really like the checkering on the 350s as it is, like so many production guns, stamped and not done by hand - which is totally understandable so I don't blame Diana. I like to chemical strip stocks....sanding removes wood ....then I like to use a SOFT toothbrush and clean the checkering and perhaps touch it up a bit and then stain with an alcohol-based aniline stain and totally refinish the stock using oils, violin orange or blonde-flake shellacs, or automotive clears. On my personal guns, I like steam distilled linseed oil or diluted lacquer washes.

I'll redo your stock if ya want me to...no charge big buddy. I have some AWESOME custom tint formulas just for beech wood!!!!! The best is where ya take a dark mahogany stain first and then GENTLY stand it back just enough to leave dark in the flames in the wider grain and then recoat with a light honey and rosewood blend...the dark figure of the grain REALLY stands out and the light honey and rosewood blend is just a silky look that is INCREDIBLE!

I'll set ya up just right my friend...others will drool over your modded thunder-stick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Curtis

Curtis,

Thanks for sharing if I had a stock like that I'd never shoot that gun I'd be mezmerized, but on the theme of
PG Woodhouse " One's upsmanship" I'd put it on my most accurate one and mezmerize the competition.



Sylvan

I did custom stocks for my Theoben Eliminators, but then when I would go hunting in the desert, I didn't want to put them on the ground, lean them up against a rock, etc. so I would have to hold them when I sat down for a drink and a smoke....total pain in the butt! My 350s are my hunters and I have the factory stocks on them so that I don't feel so "fussy" about them. What (( I )) R-E-A-L-L-Y WANT is one of the new synthetic stocks for the 350 that Diana of Germany has on thier site now....OH MY GAWD!!! No worry about rain/water/moisture, dirt, rocks, and all of those OTHER little gremilns that kill stock wood!! BUT BEST OF ALL, the screws on the forestock would not require "screw cups" and ya wouldn't have to worry about the holes getting bigger or distorted or pinched...dang!! - shaking my head with a big sigh - If I could only get a synthetic as a thumbhole sporter with a high comb!!!

Anybody got an 60" injection moulding system for sale?!?!?!?

-Curtis

Oh...I forgot...All of my airguns are getting sold today to a buddy who has been lusting over them for some time...The 2 Eliminators, the 34 Panther, 48 and 54. It's a $5200 payday for me today...now what gun should I buy next. I AM keeping my beloved 350s and the 3100!! Those will NEVER go!

-Curtis

I don't know what to say Curtis. Thanks for the generous offer!

I think you guys are right. If one of my guns looked like those pics you posted, I would leave it in the gun cabinet and just stare at it or take it bed with me I don't think I 'd take it outside or use it much. That's not my goal. It was just a thought I had at the moment I typed the message.

I think my stock is in pretty good shape. I thought maybe there is an easier way I can get some shine out of the wood with some kind of polish or even some clear coat, but if the gun needs to be stripped down completely and refinished from scratch to apply the new clear coat, then that's a lot of work to ask for, especially when I want to use this gun a lot and not lock it up and be afraid to use it. Maybe my 2nd 350 we may do a nice refinishing job with some lacker/mirror-like finish on it. Like a "Curtis comemorative 350" or "Curtis Special Edition" This 350 is intended for 1 purpose only that's hunting. I don't want to worry about ruining a nice finish which might distract me from the task at hand which is dispatching fur and large feathers of the black kind

Much appreciated Curtis!! I feel so indebted to you.. Lets get the gun shooting >700fps with 21gr Kodiaks which is the most important thing, and then we worry about appearances Tuning comes first above all. Your generocity and knowledge never stops to amaze me! Thank you!!

Curtis; when you go hunting in any outside environment you and your gun's are going to get banged, dinged, dropped, scratched, etc

I get a hell of a smile when someone post's that his hunting gun has a flawless stock because it is NOT TRUE

my air guns have scratches, nicks and more because they are USED and sometimes abused, I call them "hunting scars" and remember how each one of them got them on all my air guns

"synthetic stock with a thumbhole" is the way to go in an air gun you take to the field, it is near undestructible, screws are tight, balance is right and variations of the stock can be endless

warren

and remember "it's 30% the gun and 70% the shooter"

Well boys, ya BOTH got it right on the (X)...There are "showpiece" stocks and then there are the good ol hunters that will take the field with ya and do thier jobs like rough N tumble champs! I have slipped and rolled A** over tea kettle down little rolls out in the desert and my gun hung in there with me through all the Oooooooos and ouches!

My Theobens were the absolute PERFECT guns to have in a display case to impress company, and while they shot like ol William Tell, dead nuts on with monster power, I just babied them too much for them to be FUNCTIONAL HUNTERS. It is hard to belly down on rocks and get aligned for a shot without letting your gun touch the ground.

My guns have to be working guns, not works of art...I DO like to look at these GREAT woodblanks every once N A while...perhaps someday I do something with them....probably just get them out and look at them again....I guess THEY have now taken the place of the Theobens...ya know.....just for the WOW factor for friends and company...laugh


-Curtis

PS....(big hard pouty voice) I WANT a syenthetic thumbhole sporter with a high comb!!!