Types of Wood Used For Gunstocks

Wooden gunstocks are made of several different types of wood. With the different qualities of each wood, at the end of the day, the choice depends on the preferences of the gun owner.

A good wood for gunstocks depends on the closeness of the grain, the moisture content that the wood can handle so that the gunstock doesn't expand and contract, which results in damage to the gun, grain consistency, and more. Most hardwoods also need to be workable—they must be durable, resilient, but also soft enough to work well with. The wood used for gunstocks also depends on its ability to take a stain and finish, its appearance, and even its color.

Here are some of the most common woods used in wooden gunstocks.

Walnut Wood
English walnut provides fascinating and stimulating wooden visuals on gunstocks. Known as marblecake, it forms exquisite patterns and dark lines on the wood. Walnut is a hardwood, but English walnut isn’t too difficult to saw through and work with, which is why it’s so standard.

Black walnut, also known as Claro, walnut has a colorful tinge to it. It comes in purple, red, yellow, or green hues, and is sturdier and harder than the typical English walnut. The different types of looks and patterns available in black walnut are feathers, burl, and fiddle.

Myrtle Wood
Found in Southwest Oregon and Northwest California, myrtle used to popular wood used for making gunstocks, although it isn’t in much use now. Similar to black walnut, it has various patterns such as tiger, spalted, fiddle back, and burl. The color can range from blonde to black, and it has a fine grain. However, myrtle tends to absorb oil and is difficult to checker.

Maple Wood
Another popular wood used for making gunstocks is maple. Maple is a spectacular option for gunstocks if it’s handled properly. The wood has admirable properties, but can be difficult to checker, and isn’t as strong in comparison to other woods. Red maple is “soft”—but in reality, it’s as hard as black walnut. Known for striped and curly patterns, it’s a beautiful wood for gunstocks. Sugar maple, on the other hand, is much harder and is desired by those who prefer raised carving or checkers on their gunstocks.

At Carolina Gunstocks, we’ve got iconic wooden gunstocks available for all types of guns. Our stocks are made from aged walnut and we house over 2,500 gunstock patterns. You can also buy a variety of gunstocks, such as the  Sterlingworth Fox and Muzzleloader gunstocks, online.

Contact us at 803-225-2783 or email us at [email protected] for more information.