When it comes to a gun, you may not think much about how it looks. Especially if you are just a weekend hunter or a casual collector. However, the more devoted the collector, the more they like their gun stock to be beautiful. It is no secret that many people with old, rarely seen, guns may take a special kind of pleasure in showing it off. The catch is, it has to be in good enough shape to be “show-worthy’. Giving a rifle a makeover is often easy thanks to the availability of wood stocks. Many people love claro wood, but there are many other alternatives and popular wood stocks available.
Newly Beautiful Gun Stocks
Gun stocks are available in a variety of grains and finishes. It is up to the owner to decide which ones they like the best. There are tight grains, like wild cherry, but It is often a little on the boring side. The color can be rich though. If weight is something you wish to avoid, then you may choose the lighter birch wood gunstock. Birch is very popular in England for use as a stock because it has the tight grain that is desirable, but in the states, we seem to lean more toward the walnuts. Mesquite is a fantastic wood that is very pretty, but it is also exceptionally heavy.
The Most Exotic Woods
Yama wood is one of the most exotic woods around for gunstocks. This type of wood is from Hawaii, but its beauty is in the fact that it is both light and strong. It was very popular back in the 1950s and 60s, but today it is virtually unheard of.
Canary Wood is also an oddity, but it could be ideal for gunstocks. It has a predominately straight grain and has proven itself to be very durable.
Olive trees are also being used in the creation of gun stocks, but it is difficult. This hardwood is also considered exotic. It is most popular in the UK, where people say that it is truly beautiful. Not only does the olive climate have to be right, but you must also put in the effort to dry out the wood before you can possibly begin to use it. It is heavier than walnut wood, which may not be ideal for all gun lovers.
The Value of Wood
In talking about wood for a gunstock, you want to make sure you choose wisely, but you also need to focus on what you like. Certain woods are going to be better than others. For a gunstock, you need to consider a hardwood over a softwood, because it is more durable. Pine, cedar, and spruce are beautiful woods, but they are soft. Flooring, decking, and other areas of the home can benefit from it, but is it going to handle the recoil of a shotgun? When trying to figure out the value of wood, you need to take this into consideration as well as the grain and other stuff. Eventually, you will discover a stock that you like above all others.