Indians For Guns

Please suggest the best INDIAN wood , that is easily available , workable,durable and most suited for IOF 30-06 rifle. In TAMILNADU , NAATU Poovarsu or satin wood is most prefered for shotgun stocks. Does any of our friends have any other suggestions / experiences about the best suited INDIAN wood

veeveeaar,

I too am on the lookout for some walnut for my IOF .30-06. If you come across anything that can be managed please keep me in the loop.

what is your comment on teakwood ?

-- Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:20 pm --

what is your comment on teakwood ?

I feel it might just be heavy for a stock. Anyway, do talk to people from your area if anyone have made teak stocks.

Z375 has all the answers, try PMing him.

Teak may be an option. Among other Indian timbers Sheesham (Dalbergia Sissoo) although heavier than teak can also be used for a gun stock. It certainly meets the required criteria in term of strength and workability.

walnut or guava, make sure the grain is straight and thick through the 'wrist'. I dont think resin injection is possible in India so, avoid 'knots' and try to have an idea about how long and how it has been cured/dried.
Sure , Teak and Shesahm should be good enough

Hi V,Katana,try finding some dried out Pahari walnut specially from Kashmir,H.P or the higher reaches of U A,the grain of this Walnut is amazing and its weight is surprising less,i had a DBBL Gun restocked with this wood,it was amazing to look at,will try to PM the photos if i can find them. Shesham/Teak would be very heavy,though not a bad thing in Mid Cal rifles,but if you have to lug it for some time,it does create problems.Guava i am not very sure about.
PS ; I am usually in the hills in H P,will try and see if i can locate some Pahari Walnut planks,properly aged and PM you.

Thanks Amit, for your offer. Bear in mind that the IOF has a two piece stock. This might require some more quantity than would be necessary.

Use teak.These chaps do

http://www.australianinternationalarms.com.au/

The difference between a stock made from teak or walnut is not going to be much.As it is,the IOF 30-06 is pretty light.Addition of some weight might be welcome for some.Or you can reduce weight by hollowing out the butt and/or forend.

Dried , air seasoned African teak wood would be very light weight with good grains easily machinable ,overall best for making rifle stock.

Hi,
I am Thambi from Nellore. To my knowledge Gangaravi wood(telugu name)malvaceae(mallow family) thespesia populnea or indian tulip tree in tamil poovarsam,portung in hindi it is called gajaganda (see google) is the best suitable for gun stocks. a well known gun smith in south india who is also my friend uses this wood.the wood is very lite weight and durable.

Thanks,
Thambi.

Kashmir Walnut

There is a ban on the movement of walnut wood out of Kashmir.Also the possibility of some making it's way to Tamilnadu is pretty remote.Why not Rosewood? Makes a nice stock.

Stocks are made from woods other than walnut.

Beech,maple,mesquite,rosewood and laminated birch to name a few.

All things considered, walnut is hard to beat for a gunstock. While other woods have been, and are being used, that usually is done because walnut has been too expensive, or not available in the quantities required.
True teak is quite a bit heavier, very stable, and hell on tools. Indian rosewood is also heavy, and has a tendency to develop checks and splits. Beech is widely used, but also splits more easily than walnut, and lacks figure and color. Birch, not necessarily laminated, is also widely used, but usually lacks the color and grain shown by walnut. Maple can have good figure, but requires special treatment to bring it out, and lacks color. There are other woods in the hardness and weight range of walnut, but lacking in stability when compared to walnut.
Don't know what wood is referred to as "African teak". I would think, that if readily available, and possessing the desired properties, you would see it used by the major manufacturers.