[turkeyoak]

Does anyone know what non-walnut wood is used in older Marlins and Glenfields?
I've seen it as birch and beech.
Birch, especially yellow birch seems more legitimate as it is a more common furniture wood.
Beech is almost ironwood and isn't common in the woodworking trade but I could see something that hard use as being millable.
Any ideas? I've seen both mentioned, but nothing definitive.

 

[turkeyoak]

I'm thinking my 30AS is birch. I got that from fairly reliable source.
I have seen beech, also. I dont know if it is just an error since beech and birch sound similar.
Unfortunately both are straight grained white wood. Its not like they say cherry and pine, woods easy to tell apart.

 

[turkeyoak]

I tried posting this from my phone. This might repost...

1) I called Marlin and talked to their historian. She looked up the production figures and said it was birch. Hard to argue with that.
2) I has since seen pictures of German rifles with beech stocks. Although the same color, the beech has flecks in it like an oak.
3) I like walnut to look like walnut, and birch to look like birch. Birch is a clean straight wood. It lacks the depth, color, and complexity of walnut but is straight and strong.
My Mosin-Nagant is silver birch and is beautiful in its own way, a pure utilitarian tool.
My Marlin isn't as pretty as a walnut stock model but the birch is strong and smooth with a rich honey color.
Thanks...

 

[turkeyoak]

Thanks for all the info. Beech is my favorite tree (I grew up in the beech-sugar maple woods of Ohio) but I don't know much about it as lumber. It was so hard they cut the maples and left the beech in our area.

#SW01 - Thanks for the insight into the beech vs. walnut issue.
#Moparman1911 - I am looking for an SKS. I think I'll take your advice, make sure it is beech, and finish it as you recommended.