Rifle Stock Repair

[NcongruNt]

So last trip to the range, a friend accidentally dropped my 91/30 when removing it from its case and broke a corner off the stock. It was a clean break, so I am considering simply repairing it with wood glue. Most of the recoil force on this gun comes along the top of the stock, so this isn't a high-stress area. Here's a picture:



Any advice on how to best approach this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[WildBill]

Glue it and clamp it until dry. A good glue joint is as strong as the wood.

[CompVest]

Send SRVA a PM for advise. I have seen him do some amazing repairs.

[Keith B]

With WildBill. I have glued wood and it may break again, but usually somewhere OTHER than the glue joint if done properly. A good quality wood glue will also make an almost transparent joint if done right. As CompVest suggested, PM SRVA and see what other advice he can offer.

Good luck on fixing the bad luck!

[SC1903A3]

+1 on the gluing. I would also get thin brass nails and remove the heads. Then drill several holes in the stock that are smaller than the diameter of the brass nails. Drive the brass nails into the holes flush with the wood. I collect surplus military rifles and that is how the armorers repaired cracks in the rifles I've collected over the years. If you cant find the brass nails then you can use brass brazing rod.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I've never tried to repair one myself, but a friend fixed the stock on a Mosin that cracked in almost the same way. He took a biskit (I think that's the right spelling for that kind of biskit, not bisquit) joiner and put one in the parts of the stock. He was a part time carpenter and used to make cabinets, so he had the tools for it. Then he put the stock together using the biskit joint and a ton of high quality wood glue. He refinished the whole stock and you'd never know it was ever broken.

[WarHawk-AVG]

http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/Articles/sp32.pdf

[Chemist45]

I am very familiar with this type of break and have repaired several.
Here is what I do:
Use masking tape to cover most of the stock but not where the glue will be.
Put a thin layer of paste wax over any remaining exposed wood taking care not to get any on the raw wood that will be glued.
Check to see if the broken piece fits with the buttplate installed. If so this will aid in alignment. Be sure to wax the buttplate to keep from gluing it along with the wood.
If the buttplate is bent, remove it.
Glue the wood together using a high quality wood glue. I have also used clear epoxy but do not like Gorilla glue for this application.
Hold the pieces tight by clamping with a piece of surgical tubing: Simply wrap the wood with the tubing drawn tight and secure the loose end under one of the loops.
Sometimes this tubing will mar a finish which is why you used the masking tape and wax.
Once the glue has dried, you can easily remove any excess and squeezeout by gently scraping or filing.
The wax prevents the glue from sticking to the finish.

This next step is important:
Drill out the bottom screw hole with a half inch drill bit and glue in a half inch dowel.
If you skip this step, the repaired piece of wood will pop off as soon as you put the but plate back on.
You will have to mark and drill a new screw hole for the butt plate screw.
Straighten the buttplate (If needed) and attach it with the screws.
Remove the masking tape and rub the entire stock with paste wax.

[dukalmighty]

Duk tape

[WarHawk-AVG]

Duk tape

Actually Gorilla tape would be better.

Well it is a Mosin after all