Why not hickory for a gun stock?

Jinglebob · Nov 9, 2014

Today I cut down a big hickory tree that died last year. I have an old Stevens 12 gauge pump with a broken stock that belonged to my dad. I was thinking that the hickory would make a good stock. Hickory is used for ax and hammer handles so it should make for a very strong gun stock. This got me to wondering why hickory isn’t used for gun stocks and pistol grips.

rwsmith · Nov 9, 2014

Only thing I can think....

It's dense and heavy.

I just read on the high road that it splinters easy in cutting and also has a very open grain.

Mcwsky09 · Nov 9, 2014

rwsmith said:
It's dense and heavy.

I just read on the high road that it splinters easy in cutting and also has a very open grain.

That is interesting anout the grain. The force applied in a hammer or ax would be perpendicular to the grain while in a rifle stock, unless it was a very wide tree, would be parallel to the grain.

Bkreutz · Nov 10, 2014

Typically hickory doesn't have a very interesting grain pattern. Maple would make a very strong stock as well, but one doesn't see that used much either.

Rustyt1953 · Nov 10, 2014

Hickory, although kiln dried, has a tendency to move over time. It can twist or warp. Makes good BBQ though.

zzzippper · Nov 10, 2014

Hickory dickory stock?

dcxplant · Nov 10, 2014

zzzippper said:
Hickory dickory stock?

oah man, I gotta stay away from that ban-hammer with that post!!!

boatme99 · Nov 10, 2014

zzzippper said:
Hickory dickory stock?

Grrroooaaannn.

islamoradamark · Nov 10, 2014

try it you might like it if you dont like it you can use it for fire wood

Ogandydancer · Nov 10, 2014

Rustyt1953 said:
Hickory, although kiln dried, has a tendency to move over time. It can twist or warp. Makes good BBQ though.

I know a place in N C that uses OAK to smoke Bar-B-Que and it gives it a very unique flavor. To me it's excellent Q. Just not close enough to me I can run over every day or two and buy it.

CH4 · Nov 10, 2014

Works will for police batons! lol

Shootbrownelk · Nov 10, 2014

islamoradamark said:
try it you might like it if you dont like it you can use it for fire wood

Save it for smoking fish.

Shootbrownelk · Nov 10, 2014

Dr.Lou said:
Works will for police batons! lol

I know Dr. Lou, I had a cop part my hair with one in my formative years. When I came to, he commented that it was Hickory.

BigBill · Nov 10, 2014

Hickory is one of the queens of firewood. Along with white and red oak.
Very dense and hard wood to work with. Get some Rosewood for a gun stock it's grain and color is unmatched.

walter o · Nov 10, 2014

Hickory

Hickory was used for ram rods for muzzle loaders . It can be tempered by soaking in Kerosene and it will become flexible and not break . Maple IS used for gunstocks ,Usually Tiger ,or birdseye make some beautiful stocks.

legelegel · Nov 10, 2014

Firearms History, Technology & Development: Stocks: Wooden Stocks

http://slugger.com/baseball/wood-bats/mlb-grade/prime-ash/wbva271-ng.aspx

litenlarry · Nov 10, 2014

Ogandydancer said:
I know a place in N C that uses OAK to smoke Bar-B-Que and it gives it a very unique flavor. To me it's excellent Q. Just not close enough to me I can run over every day or two and buy it.

Oak is what most of the KC area BBQ's use as it is native to the area and a plentiful supply..Some will add a log of Hickory as it is nearby as well..

Bkreutz · Nov 10, 2014

walter o said:
Hickory was used for ram rods for muzzle loaders . It can be tempered by soaking in Kerosene and it will become flexible and not break . Maple IS used for gunstocks ,Usually Tiger ,or birdseye make some beautiful stocks.

Duh, those completely slipped my mind

, I was thinking about the clear blond variety.

kozmic · Nov 10, 2014

I have hickory hardwood flooring in my house. It's gorgeous and has plenty of grain and character.

shouldazagged · Nov 10, 2014

Bkreutz said:
Typically hickory doesn't have a very interesting grain pattern. Maple would make a very strong stock as well, but one doesn't see that used much either.

Many years ago I had a 20 gauge double stocked in maple, or so I was told by a cabinet maker. It wasn't ash.

I'd think pecan would also be good for stocks. Certainly makes handsome, very strong furniture.

Why not hickory for a gun stock?

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