Since 1889
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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