M39 stock finish

Hey all, with all the recent buzz on Finn M39's going around it has me playing around with mine more. I got it a few years ago and I have always questioned its stock finish since day 1. It doesn't look bad, it just doesn't look Finnish. I understand that the Finns used multiple finishes through the service life of the M39 but I am not sure this is one of them. I purchased some of the gunstock doctors 1/3 mix also known as the original "Finn mix" but before I attempt a refinish job, I would like some opinions.

First of all the rifle is a 1944 Sako, and it bears no markings at all on the stock and has the post war style square jointed stock.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5U4fAdEpM9BuKb6FVfs9U1oO8A67BWui5M3HUnI6lnMQZ1HD_J 8ax1sWbwBu3HWC06He7DbYMccCJfXw9bDNEW3u5RvRHEtDAIyF cYUYcquCIPxkHb2PDqD8V0ALUw1HFsazzD_EEtF41ovZ2afRH0 d2QegXeOTK_9ZsUonjEYR7RY4MNnfsvEBs1uMe05Zil13GXnE7 wnv2IG_ZfBpEquQdnTAAbf5Xx1O6pLNpQaXJ0-55nzapjmEkDcrudApgc8cmXp8jqEOy94434lWS1e2WmJrWv2aF Jo_GBWItbgW6oi6r4kQ13DRGgI_-eUbC4ZaPF7a1EdzcjoafBeW2tcQpO0WGX8KvYIxMcQgFKXS7LG iWcMJiqy-QXRk9is4bc7LeY_knRlhPDkKXOsO1YGuLknjWeOuJQ05nbxgL_ WFQh--fI3Y***CloP2YeUQ9tEz-xKm9Tbo8151B6BXDxnuUe5qvgC_V3JJOyOQTZByNpv599L0GYM E00dNuOQFwXynMfxgB0FOi3CryZV2rjItliNwWyLqipB4PI2Gc MU4YPGAlQD5NCTUXgrvbM17IHR3lsLU476rd7G8ifbAkltFPJa uphA0=w627-h839-no[/IMG]

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0NlxSTCL-1.jpg

It seems to be a little glossy for a military finish, these photos were taken with no flash.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...KDAZOPpD-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4j_EGllY-1.jpg

Here is where I really start to get suspect of it, When looking at the inside of the hand guards you can see where the finish stops and was only applied to the external of the stock. Also there is an old gouge in the wood where it appears the finish has settled into, as if the finish was applied after the fact.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...04CW7lEU-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...qziBUlIT-1.jpg

Like I said I figured I would consult some outside opinion before I do anything to it.

Thanks in advance!

Not the original finish. It's been had at with a palm sander and refinished with bubba goo.

Here's the truth. The finish on your stock was applied by a guy named Bubba. You see Bubba likes to use an electric palm sander that leaves little swirl marks in the wood, like you have. After sanding all the stupid letters and numbers and funny looking symbols off he likes to use a dark oil based stain to give the hardwood a two tone look. Once the stock is looking good he really makes it POP by smearing his own glossy concoction on the beautiful wood. It's called,,,Bubba Goo. We've Seen a lot of his work, but funny thing is nobody has every met him......

VH, ya beat me too it....:madsmile:

Now that could be that special Finn finish you read about where the extremely high gloss blinded the Soviet invaders so they couldn't shoot back effectively.

Hello D-bomb. How's the rifle shoot? Regarding the surface finish, I must say every Finn rifle I have has a different appearance and many have, obviously, been reworked one or more times in Finnish service. Frankly, I wouldn't even know what to aim for as a "proper" finnish finish and would probably leave it alone and hope that with much use it would end up with a more normal appearance.

Ridolpho

It's been re-finished post-service. None of the Finnish stock finishes for birch wood was a dark brown glossy stain. Also, the finns sanded these on long belts, not with orbital sanders. It's still likely a nice rifle though.