Recommendations for a rifle builder

[Comfortably_Numb]

Thanks, that's good to know. Also thinking of a cherry wood stock...tentative builder is allergic to walnut dust!

If you're going Lehigh you need to go with maple, doesn't have to be curly if you don't want to invest in a high dollar piece of wood.

 

[Pete G]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a plain grade maple.

 

[Zonie]

Just a thought about using a plain maple stock:
A long time ago I decided to build a .36 caliber, Boys flintlock rifle and I figured a fancy wood stock wouldn't be fitting since it was for a youngster.
With this in mind, I purchased the lowest grade maple pre-carved stock offered by Pecatonica River.

It and it came out fine except, after putting well over 140 hours into building it the first thing I decided was, never again would I use a rather plain piece of maple for a rifle stock. Had I spent a little more money for a better grade of curly maple the gun would look a lot better than it does.

 

[Pete G]

You need a darker stain on the plainer grades of wood. And yes, a fancier rifle needs fancier wood.

 

[S.Kenton]

Jackie brown has done several nice firearms for me. One fowler, two trade guns and am having him restock a Southern Mountain Rifle for me in much of the same style as your above thread of a Kibler like/petonica. I've always had good dealings with him.

 

[RHensley]

You need a darker stain on the plainer grades of wood. And yes, a fancier rifle needs fancier wood.

Sometimes the wood is so hard that the stain just want penitrate the wood enough to give a good color. That's when I use Acufortus (spelling wrong) acid and heat. After that I use baking soda and water mix to kill the acid. when it dries then stain. It usally darkens up pretty good. you have to watch though it can get too dark.