Spanish Firearms

Pukka Bundook · 29th December 2015, 01:25 AM

Rick,

As Fernando says.
Even Ottoman arms were often stocked in Circassian walnut.
The English Walnut is a bit confusing, as most didn't grow in England. (some did, however!)...........bit like English longbows were made primarily from Spanish yew. (!?)
French walnut could come from France, but also from surrounding areas, but a lot of Circassian walnut gets called French,

I gather nowadays "English" walnut is grown in California, but has a more open grain.
The best figured wood for gunstocks comes from the bowl of the tree, where the roots meet the trunk. This means a walnut tree can't be felled in the usual manner, but has to be grubbed up.
I don't suppose that helps with your question though!

rickystl · 29th December 2015, 04:11 PM

Hi Richard.
No, actually, Fernando's response was pretty much what I was looking for. The term "European" walnut can be a bit confusing/misleading due to the many sub-headings under this catagory.
The reason I asked is I'm having an early 18th Century Spanish "style" rifle built for shooting and wanted to use an appropriate wood for the stock. I was pretty sure it would be walnut. But didn't want to use something like American Black walnut, which is a bit different.
So the European/English walnut would seem to work in this case. Thanks for your input.
Rick.

29th December 2015, 01:25 AM	#1
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Rick, As Fernando says. Even Ottoman arms were often stocked in Circassian walnut. The English Walnut is a bit confusing, as most didn't grow in England. (some did, however!)...........bit like English longbows were made primarily from Spanish yew. (!?) French walnut could come from France, but also from surrounding areas, but a lot of Circassian walnut gets called French, I gather nowadays "English" walnut is grown in California, but has a more open grain. The best figured wood for gunstocks comes from the bowl of the tree, where the roots meet the trunk. This means a walnut tree can't be felled in the usual manner, but has to be grubbed up. I don't suppose that helps with your question though!

29th December 2015, 04:11 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi Richard. No, actually, Fernando's response was pretty much what I was looking for. The term "European" walnut can be a bit confusing/misleading due to the many sub-headings under this catagory. The reason I asked is I'm having an early 18th Century Spanish "style" rifle built for shooting and wanted to use an appropriate wood for the stock. I was pretty sure it would be walnut. But didn't want to use something like American Black walnut, which is a bit different. So the European/English walnut would seem to work in this case. Thanks for your input. Rick.