Professional Stockmaking: Through the Eyes of a Stockmaker

Anyone who is interested in gunstocking will want to have a copy of this book and my advice is to get it now while it's available at a reasonable price. Books on this topic have a limited audience and do not stay in print perpetually. As a result, the value of this book will only increase (Just look at Al Linden's Restocking a Rifle, it was $60 new in 2006, now it's $250 used).David Wesbrook's text communicates the concepts and techniques of stock shaping with absolute clarity in an in depth, step by step fashion. These excellent written instructions are accompanied by superb photography. As a gunsmith who has specialized in traditional muzzle loading rifles for many years, I am very familiar with the architecture of 18th and 19th Century arms and the design features that make an aesthetically pleasing firearm as apposed to one that lacks style. I was not as familiar with the individual design elements of the modern sporting rifle other than to be able to look at a modern rifle and say "that is a well designed rifle" or "something about that rifle is not quite right." The author explains what these design elements are and why they work to create a visually appealing and functionally sound firearm. This is a book that every Gunsmith should have. If you know a student Gunsmith, I can't think of a better book to give them (and I have read and own many books on the subject).

I was hoping the book would go into more detail about creating a stock from scratch rather than a blank, but the information in here is excellent. Definitely improved my woodworking in general as well as an in depth look of a dying art.

I thought this would be a complete guide for doing a stock blank to finished rifle. It is intended for those who buy a mostly fitted and inletted stock to finish the minor inletting necessary for fitting and bedding.

Some very good information for anyone looking to try to carve out their own rifle stock. Has very good detailed descriptions and a lot of photos.Looking forward to being able to study it more. Good for beginner and a skilled wood worker alike I believe.

Wrong title for this book. This book has nothing to do with stockmaking but is a great book for the fit and finish of a semi inletted stocks made by a “stockmaker”. The author starts with a stock that has been 90 – 95% roughed and shows the details and how to fit and finish the stock for the intended rifle, minus the checkering, which is a separate subject to its own.Good book for semi inletted stocks, but I would of returned it, if it was sold under prime, because it’s not what is advertised.

Great "instructional manual." Wonderful photos, descriptions of each step, complete listing of needed supplies and materials. The step-by-step format will lead an advanced beginner into a top quality product, provided one takes one's time, reads ahead, and understands why each step is necessary--again, provided one does not try to do too much at any one time. Stay in step!

While I have been building stocks for years I had not given thought to the whole process. Anyone be they novice or pro will benefit from this volume! I learned! Great Work!

This is a very good book that applies to modern as well as muzzleloading rifle construction. There are excellent tips and sections from several of the premier longrifle gun makers of today. Excellent photos of "how to" procedures from blank to finish.

A very well printed book with good quality paper and first class photos. It deals with the question of finishing the shaping of a semi inlet stock. At the beginning it lists a series of chapters that deal specifically with each part of the build and then goes on to list a further list of chapters which deal with the layout of a blank to the inletting of the barrel and receiver. Unfortunately the second part is nowhere to be found. I have searched the internet and Wolf publications but no listing of a second book. In my mind I think the second parts ie chapters/books 4 onwards should have been dealt with before the chapters one to three in this book. This is the main reason I marked this book down.