Thread: Walnut stock build (done the traditional way)

Thought it was about time I made myself another custom stock, this time for my #1 hunting rifle - my little BSA Hunter 6x45.
I had previously posted a thread on the composite stock that I made for it, and as great as that stock is, I just felt a bit soulless to me. Composite is great practically, but I love the feel, look and even smell of a nice traditional walnut stock.

First step was to draw up a plan of what I had in mind. This was drawn full-size, after many months of ‘research’ into the dimensions and style I was after. This stock has quite a strong Rigby influence, as I love the look of a classic English stalking rifle.





The sides of the blank were reasonably plain, but the end grain showed potential…. That’s the great thing about shaping a stock, you have no idea how it’s actually going to look grain-wise until your done!

Looking forward to seeing it. Here is my one with some finishing to go

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After the guide screw holes were drilled (very carefully) and the rough profile cut out, it was time to get inletting.

Topside complete




The bottom metal on these BSAs is a little challenging being two piece. Takes a long time to ensure the trigger guard is inline with the floorplate, and that they end up ‘on plane’ with each other relative to the action. One piece bottom metal is a whole lot easier!

Bottom complete, with about 4mm extra to plane off for shaping.

With that done, it’s into the fun bit!

Turned a blank of walnut into a garage full of shavings!



Buttstock end shaped, and looking really good. Grip felt perfect, just the right sweep, and cross section. No cheek piece on this one, as I’m a big fan of elegant simplicity.

That is a beautiful blank and you are certainly doing it justice. Niothing quite like the pleasure of seeing something refined and elegant emerge from the blank and then become a thing of beauty as the finish is applied.

I decided with this one to try a bit of cast and cant. All my previous stocks have been straight, so this is something new.



I gave it 3/16 cast-off, and 1/8” cant or toe out. Works well for my frame, and comes nicely to the shoulder with the scope and eye aligned.

For those interested, the major dimensions are:
L.O.P 14 1/4”
Drop at comb 5/8”
Drop at heel 3/4”
Forend length 7 1/2”
Grip circumference 4 3/4”
Grip leading edge to trigger centre 3 7/8”
Pitch zero. (Should have made it minus 2 deg for me, lesson learned)

The LOP might seem long, especially for someone that is an average 5,10” but with a nicely swept grip the hand ends up a bit further back making the 14 1/4 feel just like a 13 1/2 LOP with a more vertical pistol grip.

And so after 89 1/4 hours of planing, chiselling, scraping, sanding and much thinking and looking, here is what I have. This is after the first ‘base coat’ of oil, which now needs to dry a couple of weeks before I get stuck into the finishing.

Overall, I’m really happy with the result. What I like most about it, is the diminutive ‘feel’ to it. The combination of grip circumference, sweep back, forend length and volume and the lack of cheek piece makes for a very sleek and quick handling stock, yet not so light as to be ‘twitchy’. It’s something that you can appreciate through pictures, but once it’s in your hands it all makes sense.
A lot of time was spent in the trigger finger reliefs, but the result was worth it.

The finishing phase is going to take a while, but the grain is going to look wonderful by the time it’s complete.

Originally Posted by Von Gruff Knives

That is a beautiful blank and you are certainly doing it justice. Niothing quite like the pleasure of seeing something refined and elegant emerge from the blank and then become a thing of beauty as the finish is applied.

Thanks @Von Gruff Knives kind of you to say.
I’m very happy with the blank, turns out all the nice stuff was hidden inside. So very rewarding once the finish starts going on!

I like cant as well as cast when building my own stocks


This was a superb blank I bought in from the US and with so much burl and grain changes was done primarily with rasps as planes and chisels could not take the grain changes without chipping etc.

WOW...... that is gorgeous....hard to say it any other way,you are a talented man ,that rifle is a thing of beauty and will be family heirloom for generations to enjoy....... many years from now a young man will show it to his hunting buddies and proudly say Grand Pop made this stock by hand...... and they will look at thier plastic spastic jobbies and be sad.....
look forward to seeing finished rifle..... WOW again.

Van Gruff...you posted while I was typing...and what posted goes for you too........WOW.

Originally Posted by Von Gruff Knives

I like cant as well as cast when building my own stocks


This was a superb blank I bought in from the US and with so much burl and grain changes was done primarily with rasps as planes and chisels could not take the grain changes without chipping etc.

Yes, that is a very nice piece of walnut, and beautiful lines too! But as you say, there’s no free lunches in life…. I guess there is something to be said for just the right amount of figure in a blank. I feel fortunate with this one I have just worked, good straight predictable grain, with some nice mineral lines and a touch of fiddleback that will show up nicely once finished.

Both those stocks look so bloody great.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

WOW...... that is gorgeous....hard to say it any other way,you are a talented man ,that rifle is a thing of beauty and will be family heirloom for generations to enjoy....... many years from now a young man will show it to his hunting buddies and proudly say Grand Pop made this stock by hand...... and they will look at thier plastic spastic jobbies and be sad.....
look forward to seeing finished rifle..... WOW again.

Thanks @Micky Duck. It’s certainly a pleasurable way to spend your time, and I get a real kick out of being out and about hunting with something a bit different. Sure, walnut take a little bit of looking after, but that’s something I take pleasure in. Nothing better than giving your old friend rifle a bit of TLC in the hut when it’s pissing down outside.

I see its a classy leupold....is it fixed 3x (drool already) or a 1.5x5 ???? really love the older small loopies......