16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 178 Location: New York

So I bought a J.P. Sauer & Sohn SxS last year and have been very happy with it. Super versatile and just all-around good gun. Now that I've been shooting it for a year in a variety of scenarios though I'm considering having the stock bent up a bit so it has less drop.

I've never really had a stock bent so I'd love any general tips but, more importantly, anything I should know about the stocks on these Sauers, things to look out for, etc. For example, I've been told the walnut they used in my old Sterlingworth makes it somewhat resistant to bending; are there any idiosyncrasies like that with these Sauers?

Joined: 22 Jan 2015 Posts: 345

I can’t speak to how a particular species of walnut used by any maker might influence success in bending. I am leary of bending upwards though. For any project like this, I highly recommend you contact Glenn Baker of Woodcock Hill. He has a top knotch outfit in PA, and dose excellent work.

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1113

My experience with stock bending has been that while cast has been easy to obtain on most stocks, drop is much more difficult. The European walnuts almost universally take a bend, with the more highly figured wood being easier than the straight grained stocks. I have encountered several American black walnut stocks and at least one European straight grained stock that have refused to hold the bend put in them. Conversations with Briley reveals they will not even attempt to bend for drop. The big issue on attempting to bend for drop is properly supporting the stock while applying the bending force. On the picture below, you see two large oak blocks at the top of the picture that support the stock on the sides where it is inletted around the tangs. That provides a lot of support for the stock while applying the bending force for cast. Applying a bending force up or down to put a bend into the wrist for significant drop will likely result in damage to the stock bedding at the tang or damaging the ears that extend under the side of the receiver.

I have seen pictures of stocks that have been cut through the wrist and rejoined at the correct drop, but that would require re-checkering and refinishing at the very least. Good luck on your bending project, but be aware it may be difficult to find someone to even attempt it and if you do, they likely will want to have you assume responsibility for any damage. I've been watching this post for a while, not wanting to be the guy to give you bad news, but looks like I'm that guy.

Stock maker Dennis Smith , shared the two part epoxy method, the Two ton is clear and will raise a comb very nicely and look just like finish , give Dennis a call.

He was the guy that done Bill Hanus's work.

Regards Nick

Can you expand on Dennis's method? It might also work wonders when the metal is proud of the wood.

Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 178 Location: New York

Thanks everyone, this is helpful. Mike Orlen has done other work for me so I was just planning to take it to him. Thinking back though, he and I didn't really discuss this particular project in much detail so talking to a few other reputable stock guys makes a lot of sense.

It's still a great gun and very serviceable, especially with an Accu-Riser pad. It's not the end of the world if I can't bend it up but I do want to make sure I'm considering all of my options. It would be pretty sweet if I could though!