The stock making companies make good semi-inletted stocks,but they are cut to one size. If you have your own machine you can alter the patterns to make any stock fit a customer properly. I have been making stocks since 1956 and now I am retired but continue to write up ways to make gunsmithing a little easier for the active gunsmiths. I am making this information available to all that is interested in learning a few new tricks of the trade.
I have a machine that I made in 1983, but I do not take in work as I am getting too long in the tooth for working. I have had experience with the North Star carver and the Dan Allen duplicator. All of these machines work similarly. I decided to build my own about twenty three years ago. When I owned the North Star it required a room about 8 X 8 ft or 64 square ft. in order to operate. I thought about all the problems with the North Star and chose to design my own. First it had to be portable so it could be moved out into as area when I needed to route a stock. My machine can be stored in about 4 sq. ft of space up against a wall on its end. It weights in at 130 lbs. as to about 1600 lbs for the North Star. The moving arms on other machines are a problem to keep in alignment. There are no arms on my duplicator. I have written a plan on building my machine and it is on a CD. I cover several things on the CD. My 48 yrs of experience includes several items below.
1. Stock Duplicator Machine (old machine and new machine built at TSJC) also Operator Instructions
2. Stock Making notes from my teaching at TSJC Trinidad, Co.
3. Checkering and Carving info (tools used by me that are different) air system for checkering
4. Engraving made easy for anyone
5. Barrel vise and action wrench (simple to make)
6. Jewel fixture
7. Several pictures of guns built in the past 45 yrs
8. A complete Reloader Kit (box size 2 1/2 X 4 X 8 inches) powder measure, balance beam, hand tool, neck size only
You can buy machines that are ready to operate, but they are very expensive. If you have tools to build a machine you will need about $500 to $600 for the parts and then build your own machine. I went back to Trinidad State Jr College and taught stockmaking and checkering after I retired. Students built a machine with my supervision and I think they are still using the machine at TSJC. This machine will remove about 95% of the wood in about 1 hr after the pattern and stock blank is placed into the machine. I use a system to control the carriage that no other machine uses. You can operate mine machine with one hand on the operating handle and one hand on the spindle crank handle.
I have experience in most phases of gun work except the new semi auto rifles. My purpose for making this CD is to pass on the things that took years to learn. I have always had the attitude to tell anyone how I do stock work. When I was trying to learn gunsmithing in the 1950's, a person told me that he wouldn't allow anyone to watch him work. I went to gunsmithing school and soon passed this man in all phases of gunsmithing.
Les Brooks
