For simply the best quality, service and value
in hardwood products.


Since 1889

Gunstock Blanks


American Walnut Company is one of the premier American black walnut gunstock manufacturing mills in the world.

American Walnut CompanyAmerican black walnut logs are harvested exclusively from mature (30-50 years old) trees grown in the five state region of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Each American Walnut Company log is labeled with an inventory control tag to assure timely cutting and to negate premature drying and checking from undue exposure to the weather. To maximize the grain qualities specified by customers, each log is opened by the chief sawyer, an exceptional judge of walnut.

Cut walnut is inspected for defects. Pattern makers reinspect the wood and trace patterns to include the highest quality grain and color. A third inspection is conducted after the blanks are cut. They are then planed to an equal thickness and dipped in hot wax to prevent rapid drying and checking. The flawless blanks are scientifically kiln dried over a specific schedule, which could last as long as eight months. American Walnut Company kiln dries each individual blank with a tolerance of approximately 3%. The blanks are equalized and conditioned to prevent any internal stress. The kiln dried blanks are then inspected for any drying flaws that would occur during the drying process. The dried blanks, with absolutely no warpage or grain separation, are then reinspected, packaged and ready to be loaded.

American Walnut Company wood technologists and designers have engineered standard patterns as well as custom patterns to provide our customers with the most efficient use of the wood blanks. American Walnut Company can also provide blanks, machined on both faces, and profiled to a specific size. Stock blanks are submitted to the customer ready for their locating machines.

FIGURED GRADES

EXHIBITION GRADE #1 GRADE #2 GRADE #3 GRADE #4 GRADE
80%-90% Figure 35%-50% Figure 20%-30% Figure 10%-15% Figure 10%-50% Figure
Both Sides Both Sides Both Sides Both Sides One Side


STANDARD STOCK PATTERNS

J.C. RIFLE STOCK

Ideally suited for rim fire rifles and bolt action shotguns.

Length Thickness Butt Width
32 in 2 in. 6 in.
812 mm 51 mm 152 mm


SPORTER RIFLE STOCK

Engineered for the production of high-power, centerfire rifles.

Length Thickness Butt Width
34 1/4 in. 2 3/8 in. 6 3/4 in.
870 mm 60 mm 171 mm


O/U SHORT STOCK

A popular pattern for double barreled shotguns, both Over & Under and Side-by-Side models.

Length Thickness Butt Width
19 in. 2 3/8 in. 6 1/2 in.
482 mm 60 mm 165 mm


COMBINATION SHORT STOCK

A standard blank for all shotguns.

Length Thickness Butt Width
15 3/4 in. 2 in x 2 3/8 in. 5 3/4 in.
400 mm 51 mm 146 mm


LEVER ACTION SHORT STOCK

A precise pattern designed for the efficient manufacture of lever action rifles.

Length Thickness Butt Width
15 1/4 in. 2 in. x 2 3/8 in. 5 3/4 in.
387 mm 51 mm 146 mm


COMPARATIVE STRENGTHS

As you will note from the following information, American Black Walnut is undisputedly harder and stronger than European Walnut.

Strength Moisture Content Rupture Strength Elasticity Strength Crushing Strength Shear Strength Hardness Strength
American Black Walnut* 8% 16,456 1,756,000 9,291 1,430 1,051
European Walnut* 8% 13,100 1,540,000 7,320 1,320 860
American Black Walnut Strength Advantage - +26% +14% +27% +8% +22%

EUROPEAN WALNUT (Juglans Regia): Other Common Names: Akrot, Ancona Auverge, Austrian Walnut, Basilikon, Carua, Caryon, Charmagz, Caucasion Walnut, Circassian (area in Caucasus/Black Sea) Walnut, Englische Wallnuss, English Walnut, European Walnut, French Walnut, Gemeine Wallnuss, Italian Walnut, Jaoz, Nogal, Nogal America, Nogal Comun, Noyer, Persian Walnut, Persicon, Russian Walnut, Turkish Walnut, etc.

AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT (Juglans Nigra): Other Common Names: American Walnut, American Black Walnut, Black Walnut, Burbank Walnut, Eastern Black Walnut, Eastern Walnut, Gunwood, Virginia Walnut

* Data Published by United States Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory