Quality Hardware w/ cherry (wood)stock

[dbarn]

Here's a few photos of the 4.5 Rock that Charlie mentioned earlier. It's definitely not birch or walnut and has been diagnosed as wild cherry cut across the grain, though recently at least one "expert" is of the opinion it's padauk. Wherever there's a scratch or scuffed area, exhibits a orange or salmon color. hth.

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[DaveHH]

So Rock-ola was importing African wood during the war? I really like that Cherry stock.
Thanks David

[FTD1167]

Cherry is a very fine grain, can almost be scratched with your fingernail, It will dent very very easily.
American Cherry Wood Stair Tread - $33.72 : Country Mouldings
This is a good example of natural cherry.
Below is a Cherry stock I have. Close to the look of Birch but has Character and depth to the wood. and lacks the
tiger stripe effect that shows up on birch in some places.The stock below has been stained with Alcohol Stain, when
removed it resembled the Moulding from the above link.

And Dbarn that is a fine walnut stock you have also. I have a SA garand that was cut from the same tree.

Attachment 29172

[dbarn]

And Dbarn that is a fine walnut stock you have also. I have a SA garand that was cut from the same tree.

Attachment 29172

Thanks for the comment, but it looks nothing like any other walnut stocked carbine I have in the collection. Some folks have also suggested Mahogany, but it does not have the orange or salmon color and does not have the open grain. From what I've read cherry will darken with sunlight. The slingwell still shows the pinkish/orange salmon color.

It has also been suggested the wood has been dyed red, but if that were the case, the slingwell would have also been dyed. Here's another shot of the slingwell taken vertically.

[FTD1167]

My older brother has made Shaker Furniture for 15 years, If you hold a piece of cherry in your hand one time, or run a plane down the length of a board. You will know what cherry is.
Its like the way a mechanic knows a Small block Chevy and VW engine, How does he know? He just knows, take his word for it.
Here are some good full length pics in a stack, notice no open grain, that is what gives yours away is the open grain.
Cherry 4/4 Craft Pack: 10 Board Feet Shipped to You! Lowest Price, Highest Quality for your wood working needs from Woodworkers Source
If you don't take my word for it, sign up on a woodworking forum and ask them, BTW the African Padauk is on special this month.
Featured Wood: African Padauk from Wood Workers Source

[dbarn]

I do not doubt what you are saying and have in fact signed up on a woodworking forum. This is where the comments about padauk and mahogany have come from. Everyone did agree on one thing, that it's not walnut or birch.

Doing a little bit of research shows that padauk is also native to southern Florida. Additionally those that thought mahogany believed it to be Cuban. There was very little consistency as to what they thought it was. Padauk has the more open grain and the orange/pink color turning maroon over time. This type of wood at least made the most sense. Mahogany also does not have the open grain. The outer surface is no doubt due to 60 years of patina.

Whatever it is, may have been left over from Rock-Ola's jukebox and radio cabinet days, and used during the perceived walnut shortage.

Here's another link to cherry planks that have been cut across the grain. Some of these have been aged and are already turning the pinkish/salmon color (scroll down) after being exposed to air and light. Some of these exhibit the rayflecking present when cherry is cut across the grain.

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/person...ics/cherry.htm

[DaveHH]

David, your thoughts on the Rock-ola wood genesis sounds very plausible. They made furniture quality Jukebox and speaker cabinets and would have had supplies of suitable wood around regardless of the war. I collected Pinball machines for years (still have a few Gottliebs). Dave Gottlieb was a friend of Howard Hughes and after the war when plywood was almost unavailable, Hughes sold him his remaining material from the Spruce Goose project. So you will find the most beautiful 6-10 ply wood on the 1950s vintage woodrail machines used in the playfield and cabinet. Wood that simply cannot be bought today. Imagine what Rock-ola had in their warehouses.

[dbarn]

Thanks Dave, that's a great analogy. It would be really nice if someone from Rock-Ola were still around today. I would have many questions for them. But I'm sure the same could be said for all of the prime contractors. My appreciation for the way things use to be has grown considerably especially since the recent passing of my parents, members of the greatest generation.