Grades of Wood

While there is no set standard in grading beauty in woods, the following guidelines should assist you in understanding the types of figured wood available.

• Semi Fancy: The most economical grade of fancy figured wood. It will contain approximately 25% figure or some contrasting figure in the butt section of the stock.
  
  
• Medium Fancy: Medium priced grade of fancy figured wood. It will contain approximately 50% to 75% fancy figure with good contrasting colors on both sides in the butt section of the stock. May also show some black lines.
  
  
• Full Fancy: The highest grade of fancy figured wood, yet not the full figure of Exhibition Grade. It will have 75% to 90% fancy figure, or contrasting colors with heavy black lines.
  
  
• Exhibition: Special grade with spectacular 90% to 100% figure. High color and contrast on both sides of the butt section. Each piece is unique.
  
  
• One of a kind: Blank that contains THE BEST special characteristics. Contrasting black lines or marble figure. Will contain a nice balance of structure, color, and contrast.
  
  

Types of wood

• American Black Walnut: The most popular wood used in the making of gunstocks. Very strong for its weight, and hard enough for fine carving and checkering. It offers a wide range of different types of grain and colors to choose from.
  
  
• English Walnut: Also known as French, European or Circasian is considered to be about the finest gunstock wood available due to its strength hardiness and uniform density.
  
  
• Bastogne: Cross between English and Claro Walnut, mainly grown in the western US. Exceptionally strong and slightly heavier than other Walnut. Color is generally darker with figure predominently fiddleback.
  
  
• Claro: Native to Calafornia and very similar to American Black Walnut. Slightly softer than American. Figure usually appears as straight or broken fiddleback.
  
  
• Turkish: The choice of stockbuilders. Very firm from the simple straight blanks to the highly figured exceptional blanks. Known for their unique color, stability, hardness, workability. Outstanding wood by which all other wood is judged.
  

#T-251

Verty Large XF
Turkish Walnut
20 x 8 1/8 x
4 3/4 x 2 5/8
Best suited for
tang modeled higher
or add-on ribbed
guns Perazzi 2005,
Krieghoff TS,
Kolar TA...great
color mix. Dry and
ready to turn.

$819.00
for the set.

Email today to purchase this item

Reverse side of blank #T-251

# T-140

Extra Fancy Turkish
Great color and contrast
Light to dark honey
tone. Dry and ready

$370.00
for the set.

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Reverse side of blank

# T-140

#T-141

Turkish Walnut Burl
Dense great colors
Dry and ready for
that special project gun
Shorter blank is
15 x 6 1/2 x 5 x 2

$790.00 for 

the set.

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Reverse side of blank 

# T-141

#T-142

Fancy Turkish Walnut
Straight grain through
the wrist. Great color
and contrast complete
with dark marbling.
Dry and ready to work
Shorter blank is
14 7/8 x 6 3/4 x 2 1/2 x 2

$560.00 for 

the set.

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Reverse side of blank

# T-142

# T-139

XF Turkish Walnut

Great colors
contrasting dark
mineral lines.
Will be a nice piece
once turned.
Dry and ready to work.
16 1/8 x 7 1/4 x
3 1/2 x 2 1/4

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Reverse side of 

# T-139

# E-311

English Walnut
Great colors.

Fifty percent Figured

Reverse side of 

# E-311

#E-313

English Walnut
Straight grained with dark pigmented figure
Shows a couple of shallow bark inclusions.

# T-138

Turkish Walnut
Great colors and contrast.

100% Figured

$980.00 for this 

exceptional set.

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Reverse side of 

# T138

#T-150

Turkish Walnut
Excellent color and contrast
Complete with marble figure.

Special Select

$1,360.00 

for the set.

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Reverse side of 

# T-150

#E-301

English Walnut
Streaking pigmented figure
With great colors.

A premium set for
$850.00.

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Reverse side of 

# E-301