walnut stock cure time

[damiencain]

Was suggested I ask in this section. Have a 1915 erfurt kar 98 az. The stock forend tip is marked with an arsenal mark and the number 13. Read on wikipedia that stocks were cured for a few years before being installed. The stock is walnut. Any truth to this at all? Thank you

 

[vaughn99]

Hello,

with out kiln drying to speed things up as long as you waxed the ends properly it take roughly 18-24 months for it to dry properly from my research but it's been a while so i am trying to remember correctly : ) there is a formula of square inches total = a certain amount of time.

later
vaughn

 

[damiencain]

dating

Ok so theoretically if a stock is marked say 22 at the tip but the rifle has a 1925 date, then maybe safe to assume the stock was made in 1922, dated, cured, then installed in 1925 and serialed at that time?

 

[THunter]

Youre probably seeing the last two digits of the serial number on the bayonet lug - not a indicator of when the stock was made.

 

[mrfarb]

I agree with Thunter, that number on the end of the bayonet lug is the last digits of the serial number, not the date. Stocks weren't dated, and complete stocks were not kiln dried- stock blanks are dried before they are cut into stocks.

 

[damiencain]

Thats the weird part

The stock is numbered 4067, the hand guard also is numbered 4067. The serial of the rifle is 4067 in fact with the exception of the bolt and follower the entire rifle is marked 4067 or at least 67. The only odd number is that 13 at the tip of the bayonet lug area.

 

[vaughn99]

Hello,

as Mr. Farb Pointed out I was talking about stock blanks not a finish completely done stock. I thought you were asking about blank sorry about that!!!

later
vaughn