1960's Overton M1 rifle stock

[RCS]

This stock was a gift from my 1st Sgt a very long time ago. It was covered with some type of preservative which came off. I used boiled linseed oil, photos do not show but both sides of the stock are full shell flame

[oldfoneguy]

I'm a wood loving fool and drool over a nice birdseye or tigerstripe. That is literally breathtaking. Thanks for sharing it.

[jond41403]

That's one of the most beautiful stocks I have ever seen on an m1. I've seen lots of tiger striped stocks but that one is so uniform in its striping it just makes it more beautiful to me than most of the others I have seen. It's almost like God intended that tree to become that beautiful stock haha

[browningautorifle]

Yes, very nice figure on that one...

[eb in oregon]

Yes, very nice figure on that one...

Nice understatement.

[Bob Womack]

There is a presentation Garand presented to a high ranking officer in a local museum. It's flamed stock is nowhere near as beautiful as yours is. Yours is absolutely the most beautiful example I've ever seen. Your 1st Sergeant gave you quite the gift!

Bob

[Fushigi Ojisan]

I thought they only made windows

[Bob Seijas]

Fussbudgets that they were, SA rejected such wood because the specs said "straight-grained walnut." They did, however, set them aside for presentation rifles that would not be issued to line units. WRA used a lot of figure early in the war because they ran short of M1 wood and dipped into their pre-war stash used for hunting rifles. I have even seen Winchester handguards with fancy figure.

[jond41403]

Hey Bob, was the specifications that way because straight grained walnut is stronger than figured wood? Is figured wood more prone to cracks and splitting from heavy use?

[Bob Seijas]

Yes, straight grain was stronger, figured wood was thought to be less able to endure stress, like dropping to the prone by extending your rifle butt to the ground and pivoting onto it.