Restore this stock?

[man860]

Hello all, this is my first post on this forum. I found this place while researching refinishing techniques for military stocks. Anyways, this is my one and only rifle. It was passed down to me by my uncle. It's a nice M1941 Johnson. My question is wether to try and restore this stock or leave it as is. Here are the options I'm thinking:

A) Strip the old finish, steam out the creases. Lightly sand remaining nicks and dents. Refinish with boiled linseed oil.

B) Do nothing except giving it a good cleaning and rub down with boiled linseed oil.

Here are some pictures of the stock right now. Sorry, I don't have pics of the rifle assembled, that will come later. :thup: Thanks, your comments appreciated.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/man860/Johnson%20M1/IMG_3153.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/man860/Johnson%20M1/IMG_3149.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/man860/Johnson%20M1/IMG_3154.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/man860/Johnson%20M1/IMG_3155.jpg

[Youngblood]

B) Do nothing except giving it a good cleaning and rub down with boiled linseed oil.

[Lancebear]

Man860,

Don't do anything to your Johnson. Good ones are worth three to five thousand or more. Strip it if you know how, clean the metal and bore with Hoppe's, wipe off and then oil. You will take a lot of value out of your rare rifle if you do anything to it. Maybe wipe the wood with lemon oil and wipe it off after a few minutes, nothing else.

LB

[BruceV]

Don't touch that wood. Leave it alone. Resist every urge to do anything at all to the wood. If the compulsion to do something is overwhelming, then at the most wipe it down with a tiny bit of BLO. Do nothing else. JMVHO. Sincerely. BruceV.

[louthepou]

I agree :)

If the stock was originally finished with oil, I'd consider a tiny bit of new oil just good maintenance.

Lou

[man860]

Thanks everyone for your input. I was leaning towards the minimalist approach anyway. I've stripped the weapon for a good cleaning and will post pictures in the future. It sure is a great looking rifle and I was glad to get my hands on it. Thanks again! :thup: