Shotgun stocks go through much abuse. When you have a 66 year old gun, chances are it has been used a fair bit and it shows. I received an email from Don, an archery friend who is quite a talented woodworker with his latest project.
This is Cindy’s step-dads 1942 Ithaca model 37 12g. pump shotgun that Barb gave me several weeks ago. The metal was heavily pitted, most of the bluing gone, the wood scared, and I decided to try to restore it, or at least improve on it. I started sanding the pitted barrel with 80-grit emery, and ended up with fine steel wool. Much the same with the rest of the metal. Then a rebluing job, just OK.
A gun stock is always made from tough, hardwood, and never a soft wood like redwood. So, as a challenge, I took some redwood burl, carved the stock, bored a 3/4 inch hole through it and reinforced it with a steel pipe. Lots of fun fitting it to the gun. I then placed the finished stock and fore grip into a large ziplock bag, poured thinned down automotive catalytic urethane into it, and pulled vacuum on it for awhile to get it deep into the wood. After many coats, the wood was done and I assembled the gun. I wasn’t sure that the stock would hold together, but went to the trap range and put 150 rounds through it. Works great and the wood got a lot of attention. I’m debating checkering it, but my friends don’t want me to.
