Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
#14745014
04/04/20
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Joined: Jun 2000
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RickBin
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I want to thank Wayne van Zwoll ( aka WvZ) for his exclusive Campfire article, "The Walnut You Never Knew," which can be found on our New Campfire Home Page. This thread is the place to ask Wayne questions about the article. Thank you, Wayne, and thank you, Campfire. Rick
"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated." Thomas Paine
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW
[Re: RickBin]
#14846303
05/03/20
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Joined: Jun 2000
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RickBin
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Campfire 'Bwana
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"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated." Thomas Paine
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW
[Re: RickBin]
#14846430
05/04/20
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Jerseyboy
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Thanks to Rick for posting and Wayne for writing "The Walnut You Never Knew". I enjoyed every word.
NRA Endowment Life Member
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW
[Re: Jerseyboy]
#14846478
05/04/20
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cisco1
Campfire Tracker
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Good article.
Nice wood , really, really nice wood gets harder and harder to find.
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW
[Re: RickBin]
#14846629
05/04/20
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Joined: Nov 2008
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GF1
Campfire Guide
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Thanks Wayne, very well done on a great topic. Long live good walnut and blues steel (and scopes sans batteries!).
Blair
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW
[Re: RickBin]
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05/04/20
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haazrob
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Nice article. Thanks for posting!
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: RickBin]
#14848416
05/04/20
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Joined: Oct 2008
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prm
Campfire Outfitter
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: RickBin]
#14848719
05/04/20
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DigitalDan
Campfire Oracle
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Thanks Rick, that point out is appreciated. Very good article.
I am..........disturbed.
Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: RickBin]
#14848935
05/04/20
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 474
TwentyTwo
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Wayne van Zwoll, thank you for writing "The Walnut You Never Knew." I thoroughly enjoyed reading such a well organized, clearly and concisely expressed body of information. Well Done!
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: TwentyTwo]
#14849965
05/05/20
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 84
WvZ
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Wayne van Zwoll, thank you for writing "The Walnut You Never Knew." I thoroughly enjoyed reading such a well organized, clearly and concisely expressed body of information. Well Done! Thank you for the kind words, TwentyTwo. It's hard not to like walnut! .... Wayne
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: prm]
#14849968
05/05/20
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WvZ
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[quote=prm]Thanks for the article. My go-to hunting rifle is walnut, complete with full length aluminum bedding block. Best of both worlds.
Thank you, PRM. Nice images! Best.... Wayne
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: GF1]
#14849973
05/05/20
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WvZ
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Thanks Wayne, very well done on a great topic. Long live good walnut and blues steel (and scopes sans batteries!).
Blair Much obliged for the note, GF1. The old can become timeless..... Wayne
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: RickBin]
#14850416
05/05/20
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257Bob
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In the past three decades that I have been paying attention to rifles, walnut was the norm with almost all factory rifles, they the plastic "tupperware" stocks became fashion as the accountants could see more profits from a finished stock coming from a mold instead of a blank that needed layers of fit and finishing. Next I observed McMillan and Manners becoming the norm, not the exception. At one time, I owned five Win 70 Supergrades, I couldn't resist the nicely grained stocks of such affordable rifles. In the end, I sold them off as my interest moved to other areas but they were very nice for the money. Wayne, you mentioned Dakota Arms in your article and I had the good fortune to live in a town at the time that had a nice gun shop with a full inventory to DA 76 rifles and single shots as well. I never owned one but I got to handle and have a close look and they were exceptional. The smith who assembled most of my rifles is a member of the ACGG and I got to see first hand some of his work. I consider blued steel and walnut to represent the artistry of the trade and will always appreciate heirloom grade firearms. Thanks Wayne for the interesting and informative article.
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: RickBin]
#14850877
05/05/20
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Joined: Dec 2014
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GSPfan
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: RickBin]
#14850958
05/05/20
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GSPfan
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: RickBin]
#14852080
05/06/20
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Joined: May 2004
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DigitalDan
Campfire Oracle
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Not the greatest photo, but I have one of Don Allen's rifles, crafted before Dakota Arms was launched. 7X57 ![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/yHTNHny.jpg) Some years ago I was doing work on the side for a millwork shop in central Florida. Very top end work and they used a wide variety of wood from the span of the planet. Africa, South America, Asia and even the US of A. The work was not related to gun stocks, but I'm curious if there is a reasonable alternative to walnut that serves the purpose while still carrying some esthetic value. One thing I do know is that there are some crazy wood patterns growing out there. Zebra Wood ![[Linked Image from upload.wikimedia.org]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Zerurawood.jpg/250px-Zerurawood.jpg) Cocobolo ![[Linked Image from tehwoods.com]](https://www.tehwoods.com/sites/default/files/styles/product_view/public/images/product/lchf22_2_0.jpg) Parota ![[Linked Image from tehwoods.com]](https://www.tehwoods.com/sites/default/files/styles/product_view/public/images/product/53_1.jpg) And more, much much more....
I am..........disturbed.
Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: DigitalDan]
#14852359
05/06/20
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,682
beretzs
Campfire Tracker
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Not the greatest photo, but I have one of Don Allen's rifles, crafted before Dakota Arms was launched. 7X57 ![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/yHTNHny.jpg) Some years ago I was doing work on the side for a millwork shop in central Florida. Very top end work and they used a wide variety of wood from the span of the planet. Africa, South America, Asia and even the US of A. The work was not related to gun stocks, but I'm curious if there is a reasonable alternative to walnut that serves the purpose while still carrying some esthetic value. One thing I do know is that there are some crazy wood patterns growing out there. Zebra Wood ![[Linked Image from upload.wikimedia.org]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Zerurawood.jpg/250px-Zerurawood.jpg) Cocobolo ![[Linked Image from tehwoods.com]](https://www.tehwoods.com/sites/default/files/styles/product_view/public/images/product/lchf22_2_0.jpg) Parota ![[Linked Image from tehwoods.com]](https://www.tehwoods.com/sites/default/files/styles/product_view/public/images/product/53_1.jpg) And more, much much more.... Dan, holy smokes is that a sweet 7x57! Gosh darn what a well built rifle, looks quite handy as well! I'd bet they'd make nice looking stocks, but I am better they are heavy. I have used those to build furniture and man, they are DENSE! Same for Brazilian Cherry, another very nice wood, but dense as all get out. Be cool to see them if weight wasn't as big a factor.
Semper Fi
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: RickBin]
#14852537
05/06/20
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 31,790
Dirtfarmer
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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Wow!
Some really fine walnut here. I really enjoyed the article, the posts and pictures.
Regarding exotic woods mentioned, some of those are really heavy. Also how well they cut and carve is always a big deal. Walnut has been a classic winner on all counts. It's strong, not overly heavy (compared to some), it mills and cuts well and is relatively stable. Some of those exotic woods are hard to dry and cure, may not be that stable regarding changing shape over time, etc..
Walnut has been the standard forever, it seems, and for a good reason.
DF
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: Dirtfarmer]
#14852679
05/06/20
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 51,290
Mule Deer
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For several reasons.
Back when I was making stocks as a sideline to writing, another stockmaker friend and I made a winter road trip to visit yet another stockmaker who lived in a remote part of north-central Montana--which is pretty remote in itself. But this guy also dealt in stock wood, so we stopped to see him, in between hunting winter varmints. Among his other stuff was a full-sized blank of very dark ebony--which weighed 80 pounds! I suspect he kept it merely as a curiosity, because he'd had it for far longer than required for "curing"....
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Re: Ask Wayne van Zwoll Questions About "THE WALNUT YOU NEVER KNEW"
[Re: Mule Deer]
#14852807
05/06/20
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 31,790
Dirtfarmer
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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Posts: 31,790 |
For several reasons.
Back when I was making stocks as a sideline to writing, another stockmaker friend and I made a winter road trip to visit yet another stockmaker who lived in a remote part of north-central Montana--which is pretty remote in itself. But this guy also dealt in stock wood, so we stopped to see him, in between hunting winter varmints. Among his other stuff was a full-sized blank of very dark ebony--which weighed 80 pounds! I suspect he kept it merely as a curiosity, because he'd had it for far longer than required for "curing".... That slab of ebony, probably worth a few bucks. It's not too unlike rosewood, heavy and oily, When I work with those woods, I generally soak the part in acetone to remove excess oil. Then it's more likely for a tung oil/urethane finish to take. DF
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