Tulipwood stocked SMLE MkIs

[Patrick Chadwick]

I’m sure I’m not the only one who is not familiar with the appearance of tulipwood in its finished state. Pictures on the internet just seem to show raw material, not finished objects.

Has anyone got a good photo of a slice of polished/oiled tulipwood that they could post here?

And couldn‘t „whitewood“ mean several species. Why tulipwood in particular?

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[WillSarchet]

Has anyone got a good photo of a slice of polished/oiled tulipwood that they could post here?

And couldn‘t „whitewood“ mean several species. Why tulipwood in particular?

I'm also unfamiliar with what RLO-finished whitewood/tulipwood looks like, I'm seeing if any of the woodworkers I know have a scrap I could have. Once I have that I'll post a comparison photo next to walnut.

Whitewood is a general term in some contexts, but American Whitewood from what I have found specifically refers to tulipwood or the tulip poplar tree. It also has better properties for a gunstock than "modern" whitewoods like pine or fir. Whitewood as a general term also appears to be a relatively recent application of the term, while period UK documents (for example the specifications for the Chest, Rifle, Short MLE MkI) seem to use deal as the general term for SPF type softwoods.

[ssgross]

And couldn‘t „whitewood

Isn't whitewood at the hardwood store raw pine? Usually the lower grade planks with knots in it

[browningautorifle]

raw pine

No one would use pine for gunstocks...

[ssgross]

No one would use pine for gunstocks...

I would hope not - point being, and I think we have consensus now, is that "whitewood" is a generic term not necessarily species specific. maybe it's meant to mean sapwood vs. heartwood?

[StratA]

I would hope not - point being, and I think we have consensus now, is that "whitewood" is a generic term not necessarily species specific. maybe it's meant to mean sapwood vs. heartwood?

In general it often refers to lumber from one of the tree species in the genus populus. The tulip tree is not of the same genus but the lumber from the tulip tree can closely resemble some of that from poplars. (Sorry, this touched my former profession!)
However, who knows. White wood is like common names for trees--the meaning can be very different state to state, province to province, region to region, etc.

[WillSarchet]

In general it often refers to lumber from one of the tree species in the genus populus. The tulip tree is not of the same genus but the lumber from the tulip tree can closely resemble some of that from poplars. (Sorry, this touched my former profession!)
However, who knows. White wood is like common names for trees--the meaning can be very different state to state, province to province, region to region, etc.

Right, the Accounts specifiy American Whitewood which from what I can tell is specifically tulipwood/tulip poplar/yellow poplar (but not really a poplar), and not referring to whitewoods from America. From what I can tell what we now call whitewoods, would have been called deal or dealwood which is now an obsolete term. I can't see any of the "modern" whitewoods being used for rifle stocks but tulipwood seems like it would be right in with Queensland Maple or Coachwood as a decent substitute wood.

[AD-4NA]

Reviving this from the dead to say that if we could nail down the correct species I would almost be inclined to try it out on a sporterized
Mk I needing furniture or a forend someday.

Thanks for bringing it up buy the way, one of those arcane little things that is fascinating,