Walnut Grove stock quality?

FrankenMauser · February 10, 2020, 12:24 AM

What is your opinion of the quality of Walnut Grove gun stocks?

I know the company closed down and sold its remaining stock and most of its tooling and patterns a few years ago, but I'm just getting around to working with a rough-shaped stock I purchased from them in 2014 or 2015.

I'm disappointed.
This was a "semi-inlet" for a generic 'Commercial Mauser'. I'm putting a (Sarco) Dumoulin receiver in it. I did ask before purchasing if the inlet had enough meat for such. The owner responded with an assertive, "Absolutely!" He claimed to have put two of the Sarco Dumoulins in stocks with the same inlet.

The top side inletting is offset to one side by about 1/4".
The bottom side inletting is crooked and off-center.
All of the internal inletting was hogged out with a router bit at an angle, which removed excess material and also tore the hell out of the wood grain.
The screw holes are off-center (but not matching the inletting's off-center distances) and crooked.
And I have no idea what they decided this generic 'commercial mauser' pattern was good for as a semi-inlet, because the inletting is all massively over-sized.

When I order a 'semi-inlet' stock, I expect something with extra material everywhere around the action and bottom metal. This thing, however, looks like it's going to have substantial gaps around the receiver, and at all four corners around the magazine area of the bottom metal. And when you ask questions to make sure it's the right stock for the job, and still find out that it's wrong...

I'm still going to fully inlet this action and bottom metal (I'm about 40% done now), to see just how bad it is.
But I'm not sure that it'll be usable. If I do decide that the rest of the stock is worth it (it does have good figure), I think the only way I might be able to save it is with an 'accent' / filler piece of something like Maple all around the action and bottom metal, to fill the gaps. We'll see.

Did I get a bad one?
Or is this par for the course?

hooligan1 · February 10, 2020, 07:06 AM

That would piss me off. Usually 90% inlet stocks I get are from Richards, and they arent terrible.

std7mag · February 10, 2020, 11:13 AM

Mayhaps theres a reason they are out of business....

Scorch · February 10, 2020, 11:55 PM

IIRC, Walnut Grove bought out Great American Gunstock. Last time I spoke with the former owner of Great American, the folks who bought his business knew nothing about making gun stocks, but he was fine with that so that he could keep consulting with them on operating the business. From the sounds of it, they never learned how.

FWIW, I always buy from Richards Microfit.

FrankenMauser · February 11, 2020, 01:37 PM

Scorch, I've read pretty much the same in several other places, over the last few days.

I have also read that their inventory is being sold on eBay and Gunbroker now, by whomever it was that bought everything. Great prices on some high grade garbage!

Caveat emptor.

Scorch · February 11, 2020, 05:37 PM

I tried to buy the equipment and pattern stocks from Great American when he was shut down by the city he was in after a few fires in his shop. He was adamant about the consulting agreement and would not send an inventory list for appraisal, but wanted me to "drop by for a talk" (800 miles away) and he would let me see everything he had. He started selling his samples and patterns so I bagged buying the business, and Walnut Grove stepped in. Anyway, never bought a stock from them, so I've never seen their work first hand. But I have read about quality issues, so maybe that's all I needed to know.

February 10, 2020, 12:24 AM	#1
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,421	Walnut Grove stock quality? What is your opinion of the quality of Walnut Grove gun stocks? I know the company closed down and sold its remaining stock and most of its tooling and patterns a few years ago, but I'm just getting around to working with a rough-shaped stock I purchased from them in 2014 or 2015. I'm disappointed. This was a "semi-inlet" for a generic 'Commercial Mauser'. I'm putting a (Sarco) Dumoulin receiver in it. I did ask before purchasing if the inlet had enough meat for such. The owner responded with an assertive, "Absolutely!" He claimed to have put two of the Sarco Dumoulins in stocks with the same inlet. The top side inletting is offset to one side by about 1/4". The bottom side inletting is crooked and off-center. All of the internal inletting was hogged out with a router bit at an angle, which removed excess material and also tore the hell out of the wood grain. The screw holes are off-center (but not matching the inletting's off-center distances) and crooked. And I have no idea what they decided this generic 'commercial mauser' pattern was good for as a semi-inlet, because the inletting is all massively over-sized. When I order a 'semi-inlet' stock, I expect something with extra material everywhere around the action and bottom metal. This thing, however, looks like it's going to have substantial gaps around the receiver, and at all four corners around the magazine area of the bottom metal. And when you ask questions to make sure it's the right stock for the job, and still find out that it's wrong... I'm still going to fully inlet this action and bottom metal (I'm about 40% done now), to see just how bad it is. But I'm not sure that it'll be usable. If I do decide that the rest of the stock is worth it (it does have good figure), I think the only way I might be able to save it is with an 'accent' / filler piece of something like Maple all around the action and bottom metal, to fill the gaps. We'll see. Did I get a bad one? Or is this par for the course? __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 10, 2020, 07:06 AM	#2
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	That would piss me off. Usually 90% inlet stocks I get are from Richards, and they arent terrible. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

February 10, 2020, 11:13 AM	#3
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Mayhaps theres a reason they are out of business.... __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

February 10, 2020, 11:55 PM	#4
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	IIRC, Walnut Grove bought out Great American Gunstock. Last time I spoke with the former owner of Great American, the folks who bought his business knew nothing about making gun stocks, but he was fine with that so that he could keep consulting with them on operating the business. From the sounds of it, they never learned how. FWIW, I always buy from Richards Microfit. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 11, 2020, 01:37 PM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,421	Scorch, I've read pretty much the same in several other places, over the last few days. I have also read that their inventory is being sold on eBay and Gunbroker now, by whomever it was that bought everything. Great prices on some high grade garbage! Caveat emptor. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 11, 2020, 05:37 PM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I tried to buy the equipment and pattern stocks from Great American when he was shut down by the city he was in after a few fires in his shop. He was adamant about the consulting agreement and would not send an inventory list for appraisal, but wanted me to "drop by for a talk" (800 miles away) and he would let me see everything he had. He started selling his samples and patterns so I bagged buying the business, and Walnut Grove stepped in. Anyway, never bought a stock from them, so I've never seen their work first hand. But I have read about quality issues, so maybe that's all I needed to know. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

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