To Sand or Not to Sand

I've been here for a while now, shared some of my rifles and my projects, read a lot of info and opinions but still can't say I've seen a definitive reasoning behind the sanding or not sanding issue.

I get that original markings are important to collectors. So cartouches, military inspection marks, etc should be preserved as much as possible.

I also understand that some people simply don't know how to sand wood and any attempts they may try are considered extreme bubbaing.

Here's the rub I guess. Re-arsenald rifles probably had their stocks sanded. I've seen this with the Nagants and a Greek service 03A3 which I currently own and would expect it to have occurred with some of the other rifles. Many rifle stocks are overly large when new probably to enable this refinishing to occur without having undersized butt plates, etc. And knowing the military, and the desire to have everything spotless clean, I would expect that some stocks were sanded by the individual troops to remove dings. Not having served in the time of wood stocks, I don't know if this is or isn't the case and we had no need to sand plastic stocks.

General consensus is that cleaning is OK, BLO is OK, mild steel wool is OK, but don't get that sandpaper anywhere near it.

I'd be very interested in hearing the opinions of shooters, collectors, etc here with your reasons for and against the dreaded sandpaper.

Peter Laidler can answer for the official line but having served in the time of walnut stocks I'll tell you for sure we NEVER sanded our stocks. ANY alteration of the rifle was unauthorised. Only oil, BLO and a couple of other polishes that would come off with solvents. You're correct about most people not knowing how to sand. Not much is required. Most remove enough that the whole shape of the stock is changed. "There, now it's nice and clean."

I like that patina color on walnut, if it is on a Lee Enfield, M1 Rifle or 1903. Just finding wood parts such as handguards with a nice old patina color is difficultAttachment 16654Attachment 16655Attachment 16656

Why sand the stock?? Just clean it and rub in some Raw Linseed Oil. Sanding wrecks the stock and you can spot a sanded stock a mile away.......Don't ruin history please! Here is a good example. It's a 1926 Lithgow that was filthy. I cleaned it with DA and rubbed in some raw Linseed oil. If you look close, you can still make out the Kangaroo. Sanding would have ruined this beautiful piece of history. OBTW, no steel wool either! Regards, Rick. Regards, Rick.

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