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On Walunt Stocks, what is the general opinion here on guns that look very original and in high condition, but the wood is not proud at the toe of the stock? Ive seen a lot of guns that are like this but what I also see is guns that have a lot of wear and look orginal that are proud? Im talking about guns that the wood is proud all over except at the toe? I do see more Gum Wood stocks like this than Walnut but still see it with them as well.
It seems that when you fins a nice used but not used up gun, the wood is proud like it should be. I know there is some idea of shrinkage but Im thinking most of these have been sanded and I cant see it.
What do yall think.
Rex,
I’ve wondered about this as well. I have a model 1894 made in 1902 with the wood just shy at the toe of the crescent butt plate, but proud everywhere else.
Al
I have a minty 1894 semi-deluxe in 32-40 with a double set trigger and checkered pistol grip with the same thing. Wood is perfect everywhere except a little shy at the toe. It’s always puzzled me as I don’t see any evidence of sanding anywhere and has nearly all of the original oil finish.
I am not a woodworking expert but, my thought was that the wood is very thin down by the toe and this may have lead to more noticable shrinking at that point. The same thing happens to shotgun butts in that area. Will have to wait for the more informed members to chime in.
Paul
The typical response I get when I’m purchasing a gun is "Normal Shrinkage". I’m just not sure of that since some guns that have more abuse many times don’t exhibit that.
One thought is that the toe area is fragile and more susceptible to being damaged and possibly repaired/ refinished.
I often find it hard to tell if wood has been refinished. Too many variations on what original looks like given changes across time by Winchester, age, and wood type. Plus different finishes offered.
I guess it could have also been a Q.C lenience . It is probably the easiest spot for a woodworker to to go in a touch too much ( on a Monday morn after Octoberfest/Schutzenfest weekend? ), or wasnt quite cleaning up a knot hole or blemish,and rather than scrap an almost perfect stock they may have been passed thru as Unnoticible, which Im sure it was unless any of todays serious Collectors had ansestors back then with eagle eyes and a knife point straight edge to check it over. Oh forgot to mention I am no wood working expert either , but have delt with Q.C departments
I could see where on a crescent buttplate it would be fitted more closely at the toe than other places where it engages metal. The toe takes the brunt of the weight of the rifle when stood upright, and if you have proud wood in that area, there is a potential for it to be chipped or cracked. Take one of your guns outside and sit it down in the dirt or on a rock, make sense this area would need to be more closely protected by the steel toe of the buttplate. Then again, it may just be due to natural shrinkage due to the thickness, density, or the grain flow at the toe. Any number of factors could come into play.
As for refinished wood, (less the color or finish appearance) its easiest to detect at the upper and lower tangs, and where the wood inlets into the receiver. If the corner edges are rounded or undersized in the slightest in these areas it is usually due to sanding or even finely stripping, or smoothing with steel wool or other reductive material. However, I have seen natural shrinkage occur in these areas as well.
Also, if the forearm wood appears to be rounded where it inlets into the receiver or there is edge wear at the top outer corners of the forearm, its likely been worked on a little–there should be a squared and sharp corner.
In the end, always start with the 10K feet view, then work down to the granular–Got to look at the wood overall, in combination with the steel condition, whether it matches, and make the best call you can.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
For models with blued buttplates, bear in mind that many rifles have been upgraded by replacing buttplates with worn bluing. Original buttplates in excellent condition have been available for many models, but they vary in size as do the stocks. It is a trial and error process to get a good fit. Sometimes, the fit is good everywhere except at the toe.
My guess is that some of the stocks with poor fitting buttplates at the toe have been upgraded with a buttplate not original to the rifle.
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