Can you identify this unusual Brno Model 2 wood?

tactical lever said:
Regardless; it's very pretty! Interesting grain and colour. Hard to get that on newer rifles.
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I was in a gun store the other day and looked at a new base model wood-stocked Winchester Model 70. The price seemed high to me and I asked the clerk why it cost so much. He replied that it was because it had a walnut stock and that "fancy" wood like that was expensive, plus the checkering and finish.

Yet it was the blandest piece of walnut that I have seen in a long time! Pale, with no figure or grain to speak of...checkering was mediocre as well.
 
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Rob said:
I was in a gun store the other day and looked at a new base model wood-stocked Winchester Model 70. The price seemed high to me and I asked the clerk why it cost so much. He replied that it was because it had a walnut stock and that "fancy" wood like that was expensive, plus the checkering and finish.

Yet it was the blandest piece of walnut that I have seen in a long time. Light, with no figure or grain to speak of...checkering was mediocre as well.
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Fairly sad, what is considered fancy wood these days. Still prefer a plain piece of lumber to fancy plastic.

I'm sure you know, but there is probably a few people who don't know the reason for that is that most of the old growth hardwood is depleted. And that's where all the really pretty grain and variance in wood is formed.

Unbelievable prices on wood blanks now, and about an arm and a leg to get a stock made. But luckily for us, who appreciate the classics and old world craftsmanship, old rifles with beautiful wood can be had for great prices on occasion.
 
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Rob said:
Can anyone identify this wood beyond saying it is "Turkish walnut." I have owned numerous Brno .22s, plenty of Model 1s, 2s and 5s and I have never seen walnut like this. Brno .22 walnut is generally a honey color, often with black mineral streaks, sometimes more, sometimes less. This wood is very different. It is very dark, almost black (it appears lighter in the photos than it really is), and with short reddish streaks. It is also much harder than the normal Brno walnut and when compared to several other Brno Model 2 stocks it on average weighed at least 1/2 lb. more. So...darker, harder, and heavier. Any ideas? (The rifle is early 80s vintage.)View attachment 820794View attachment 820796View attachment 820795
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I have a model 4 that has an unusual stock. Deni brunoman said it could be bubinga wood. Apparently they made a small run of stocks for an African country that supplied the wood
 
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topgun223 said:
I have a model 4 that has an unusual stock. Deni brunoman said it could be bubinga wood. Apparently they made a small run of stocks for an African country that supplied the wood
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I have owned a custom Mauser fullstock made from Bubinga wood..although as I remember it, it didn't remind me much of this, but maybe...can you post a picture of the Model 4? I like that rifle. I have several.
 
As a cabinetmaker I'd have to say it's walnut like the rest but you got a very hard and nicely figured piece. Very nice.
 
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Rob said:
I have worked with plenty of Beech and know its characteristics well. This wood looks nothing like Beech.
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Hi Rob. Here is the cz no 4 in bubinga hope this helps, Kevin
 

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Very nice model 2. Since we are talking about BRNOs with nice wood. Here is my BRNO model 2-E from the 80s. I lucked out with this one, have never seen another one like it. Gave it a tru-oil finish.
 

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This is the only rifle I ever owned with a verified Bubinga wood stock, a custom Mauser 98 stutzen. Bubinga with ivory inlays, etc. However, I don't think the extreme tiger stripes are necessarily typical of Bubinga. (I don't know who made the rifle although I was told the original owner was a member of the prominent Oland family in New Brunswick. I sold this rifle some time ago.)


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Rob said:
Can anyone identify this wood beyond saying it is "Turkish walnut." I have owned numerous Brno .22s, plenty of Model 1s, 2s and 5s and I have never seen walnut like this. Brno .22 walnut is generally a honey color, often with black mineral streaks, sometimes more, sometimes less. This wood is very different. It is very dark, almost black (it appears lighter in the photos than it really is), and with short reddish streaks. It is also much harder than the normal Brno walnut and when compared to several other Brno Model 2 stocks it on average weighed at least 1/2 lb. more. So...darker, harder, and heavier. Any ideas? (The rifle is early 80s vintage.)View attachment 820794View attachment 820796View attachment 820795
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I was cleaning a Brno 581 and spotted this in the rack (a different 581), similar wood to your and 1967 vintage.

Brno 581 3.jpgBrno 581 2.jpgBrno 581 1.jpg
 
I have a long axe handle. The wood is similarly marked with black streaks. On the handle is marked "Tar Hickory". Could your stock be made from similar wood? Bob.
 
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