JWA said

I have read somewhere (possibly in Williamson’s “The gun the won the west”) information on the source of the wood for the gunstocks.  It has been so long ago that I read it that I can’t recall the details, sorry.  Maybe that tidbit will spur recollection in someone else.

I recall something as well and will have to dig my copy out to re-read it. If memory serves it was Northern American Black Walnut was the standard fair. Only on special order was English Walnut used. Birds Eye Maple was special order as well. Something about the company owned some plantations and in later used when supply was low they used Southern Black Walnut. Then of course you have the gumwood stocks produced as well.

The only other information I recall seeing was this 1916 Brochure. It lists 6 Million linear feet of wood used for packaging.

This 1914 Winchester Factory Portrait shows a lot lumber being stored on the factory premises in the lower right hand corner of the portrait. The 1916 Brochure shows it as well, but it is easier to make out on the 1914 portrait.

Sincerely,

Maverick

P.S. If I get a free minute I’ll try to look in Williamson’s book.

Maverick said

If memory serves it was Northern American Black Walnut was the standard fair.

Yes, but the question was, where did it come from?  (Hint: where were both Bishop & Fajen located?)

JWA said
Ooh, ooh, as a born and bred Central/Southern Missourian I know the answer to this one 😉

Born in Boone County, MO and grew up in the Ozarks,  I still smell black walnut in my sleep.  My house is cluttered (in a good way) with furniture my grandfather made from walnut on the family farm.  Great-grand-dad owned the first steam engine between Centralia and Mexico, MO (and the surrounding counties) and ran a part-time sawmill on the farm with it.  People would drag their logs to him (sometimes miles) with a horse or mule team and he would saw planks which would then be transported back to them via a long buckboard wagon.  All of the black walnut furniture my grandfather made as a young man in high school shop class came from the farm.  I still have great-grand-dads 1″ thick Black Walnut sawmill-cut plank large carpenter’s box that was mounted behind the seat on his buggy for “carpentry house calls”.

Sorry, not Winchesters but priceless to me nonetheless.

Best Regards,  

Indeed, priceless memories and family history. I enjoyed reading about it and it was very pleasant to picture it in my mind.  

Thanks for sharing.

steve004 said Indeed, priceless memories and family history. I enjoyed reading about it and it was very pleasant to picture it in my mind.  

 

Yes, but he left out (or repressed) the part about the TICKS!   Think you know something about ticks & chiggers?  Not unless you’ve lived in the Ozarks!

Used to get ticks on us in the PNW when logging and hunting. Some places are now suffering huge infestations. I have been trying to talk my brother into getting free range chickens at his place. You don’t dare sit out in the yard.