Unwrapped No.4 Mk2 cleaning

[arrowup42]

Hi guys I researched a lot about treating military rifle stocks that are still soaked in cosmoline or are dried out. I've read a lot of different options and such but im looking to keep the original finish and not do any damage to the stock markings. Last week I purchased an unwrapped No.4 Mk2 from a gentleman who had unwrapped it , cleaned off the cosmoline on the outside metal and wood and then let it sit for the past ten years untouched until I got. So far I dissassembled the rifle and cleaned the metal and wiped the cosmoline out of the interior of the stock. The top hand guards and a few spots of the fore end are very dry to the touch. Would it be okay to not degrease it further by putting it in a trash bag out in the sun and instead go right to soaking it in some pure raw linseed oil? Thanks!

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[WarPig1976]

Keep cleaning, get all the cosmoline and gunk off the stock and re-oil it. Your not pulling stain out of the wood so your not hurting the "original finish" just old gunk.