MY new build!

[bpd459]

Greetings,
Just a few words and pictures of my newly stocked Barnard P .243 Win prone rifle. It sports a 30 "1-7.5" Krieger chambered in .243 Win, by Randy Gregory. Warner rear, RightSight front, and a WTC rail.
Mr James Cloward of Lake Stevens WA did the stock in just a month. These are obviously a "before and after" pictorial! The stock is African Zebra wood, with an Ebony grip cap. Photo's do not do it justice! I am honored to have known Jim since I was 12, and even more honored to call him a friend.
Take care,
John

 

[teele1]

Beautiful work of art!

 

[mao0720]

That is absolutely beautiful!

 

[Coolhand]

Who was it said " a thing of beauty, is a joy forever! "

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Jim did a great job. Zebrawood can be tough to work with, but it really came out beautiful. Did he already have the blank, or did you buy it and bring it to him?

 

[jonbearman]

I know this probably means nothing to you but I have been collecting recurve bows from the 1960's for years made out of,you guessed it,Zebra wood.It has been one of my favorites ,so your stock to me is beyond art.It is a work of God to me,simple beauty beyond description.Congrats on one heck of a piece like that,it is marvelous.

 

[bpd459]

Greetings,
Thanks for the kind words guys. I have several Cloward built XC rifles and two other prone rifles that Jim stocked. It still amazes me how Jim can take a big piece of rough sawn firewood and turn into artwork that's functional and better looking than anyone else stocks!
Jay, Jim had the Zebra wood in stock. I wanted a lighter colored stock and this blank called my name and did not eat my wallet either!
Thanks again,
John

 

[Down South]

Very nice!!!!!!!

 

[357Mag]

bpd -

Howdy !

The one time I worked w/ Zebra wood, I found it to be " hard as Kelsie's .

And, I don't believe ebony is all that forgiving to work with; either !

HE's a true artist.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[ebb]

The last time I worked with a piece of cherry it almost kicked my ass. But if you really want to know what hard is try bubinga wood.

 

[kcomeau10x]

How fortunate you are, to not only get him to fashion a truly beautiful stock for you, but also to know and be a friend of one of the legendary people in the stock making field. I am glad to know that he hasn't passed on. His legacy is all the great stocks that are still out there being used, maybe by second or third owners. I hope you enjoy that piece of art for many years to come!

 

[bpd459]

Guys,
Thanks again. This stock gets its maiden voyage to Lodi WI next week for the Mid-West Palma / LR championships.

Jims work is above reproach. His hand cut checkering is better than a couple custom 1911's I had done by "big name" builders! When Jim refined the original Roy Dunlap stock, he created history. There is no better feeling / handling stock on the world than a Cloward Dunlap stock. I wanted him to do a Dunlap for my Barnards and we could not get it to work due to the size and trigger placement on the Barnard action. So, I just had to make due with his prone stocks.... Life is rough sometimes.

Growing up, it was always "Sir" or "Mr. Cloward" when I would ask him something. When I was 35, Mr. James Cloward told me "you can call me Jim now". I felt like I was a grown up adult that day!

Take care,
John

 

[Shiraz]

Nice rifle!

I thought Jim retired a few years ago. I suppose guys won't let him! I have a few of his rifles and agree that his stock-work is a thing of beauty.

 

[thekriebles]

...Growing up, it was always "Sir" or "Mr. Cloward" when I would ask him something. When I was 35, Mr. James Cloward told me "you can call me Jim now". I felt like I was a grown up adult that day!...


Congrats on the incredible stock. And, I can appreciate your appreciation of being brought into the "inner circle" with a special friend and/or mentor.

 

[Changeling]

Does Mr. Cloward have a web site?

One look told me that man knows what he is doing! Absolutely beautiful work.
Thanks for taking the time to show the pictures Sir.

 

[Grimstod]

I love the grain in the stock. Excellent work!

 

[Joe C]

Beautiful rifle. I just sold a walnut Cloward stock recently. It was a thing of beauty.

 

[ratguner]

Damn John, another Cloward rifle?!?!?
All I need is more pressure to get in to a match rifle.

 

[bpd459]

Larry,
All the cool kids have one..... I just happen to have one too. For each day of the week!
Take care,
John

 

[Danger]

Very nice work