I love beautiful figure in a fine wood stock, as most of us do. But I often wonder about it. As a former carpenter, and lifetime woodworker, I understand that highly figured wood has, by its nature, lots of internal stresses. When we go to the lumberyard for a project, we sight down each and every board, select for straight grain, and as few knots as we can find, (getting harder all the time.) Sometimes even then, after careful selection, we go to rip a board, and suddenly the table saw binds.
So, why is figured wood so highly prized in a gun stock, beyond aesthetics? It seems to me that, if one were looking for maximum consistency over varying environmental conditions like temperature and humidity, one would look for the straightest, tightest, and yes, plainest grain one could find. Maybe this is why the top-end wood-stocked 10M rifles used laminates, and later abandoned wood altogether in favor of metals and synthetics. They are not sexy, but they are functional.
Don't get me wrong. I'm as much a sucker for a highly figured stock as the next guy. I just think it has much more to do with pleasing the eye than hitting the bullseye.
AAHHhhh Yes! "A sucker for highly figured wood". I think we've all been there before. And for good reason, it is a pleasing and desirable thing to behold.
Obviously, I am highly Biased on the subject of gorgeous 'lumba' !
And synthetic material is structurally more stable and even stronger, But Jeeze just look at what you got in your hands. Don't get me wrong, about half my collection is synthetic and I'm not complaining, but I don't bring out those pieces to show off.
It's Obviously aesthetics without a doubt. But what if IT Was Strong enough for the very task at hand, and need need not exceed NASA Aeronautical Standards (lol).
Which would you choose? IF cost were not the great Equalizer?
doug,P.
There's always the aspect of weight factor as well. Granted on most airguns having extra weight is probably going to be a moot point since your usually dealing with near zero recoil, but it's definitely a bigger factor with actual firearms. Having that extra weight on a firearm generally makes for a much more manageable recoil and less time fighting the buck of the gun (not to mention the wear and tear on your poor shoulders and wrists).
I believe I have the answer!
I once worked on a rifle stock that had been standing in the corner of a closet for a decade. Termites had been working on it for who knows how many years.
Well, 'they done' a mighty fine job on that cellulose. So I see your spalted wood and raise you a 'Termite Job' for even more instability in wood materials. (lol !)
doug,P.
I believe I have the answer!
I once worked on a rifle stock that had been standing in the corner of a closet for a decade. Termites had been working on it for who knows how many years.
Well, 'they done' a mighty fine job on that cellulose. So I see your spalted wood and raise you a 'Termite Job' for even more instability in wood materials. (lol !)
doug,P.
But can you play it like a didgeridoo? Precharged pneumatic didgeridoo, it could be the new 2020-2021 rage!