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From what I've been reading about M1 Garands, the reason the wood on them, if it is original WWII wood, turns cherry looking is because of cosmoline and oils.
My question is this:
If I want to have my M1 refinished/refurbished with new furniture, what would be more authentic to what they would have looked like during WWII?
Cherry finish?
Brown?
Mine, specifically, was made by Springfield Armory in late August/early September, 1944.
Paul, that is the $64,000.00 question. There is no hard fast rule to stock color as when the new batch of stock oil was put in the tank the stocks would come out lighter in color and as the dirt, grime and whatever was introduced to the oil the stocks would darken. Also, how was the stock treated after it left the factory? "Hey Joe, my stock is drying out." "Hey, the only thing I have is this old used motor oil." "That'll work." You get my point. Also, there will be a difference how center or core wood takes color as opposed to an outer cut because grains are different between the two.
I have an IBM carbine with a walnut stock that just will not darken anymore. The grain is very tight and just won't take it.
A dark reddish brown is a good start though.
Yes, you might say, well ... walnut color :) If you look at some old NRA Sales rifles (.22 and 30-06) you will see the ideal. They never saw a speck of Cosmo. As Bill says, however, different wood takes on different color. Some of the WRAs with swampwood stocks are yellow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Hollinger
Again, thank you gents. I have to pick between a brown stain and more of cherry stain.
Decisions. Decisions.
Mix them! :D
The more I think of it, I think I will go with a bright "day glow" orange, you know, just to be different.
Oxidation of raw linseed oil is what causes the color changes. I have a lovely piano that's over a hundred years old with the same lovely red patina and I promise nobody ever slathered cosmoline on it or stained it.
I don't fool around with any kind of stain. I use linseed oil exclusively, and let time take care of the coloration.
Charlie
As Bob mentioned, this is an NRA Sales rifle from 1916. Never saw any cosmoline.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../344pn3c-1.jpg
Johnny, that is gorgeous! That finger groove is so sharp and crisp! Wow!!!:super:
What, what a beautiful finish/stain.
I have a good selection of old wood and wood that has been cleaned.
The wood that has had the bathtub soak with detergent and left for two-three years to darken naturally, with only one thin coat of blo, tung or danish, looks comparable to my old '03's/17's and krags in color.
Leave the stain for something else is my opinion. Time and aging is the key. Impatience does not pay--no instant gratification.
Years ago I used to play with the leather dyes, french stains, etc but was never really satisfied--- especially after they went very dark after a few years.
The natural walnut oil still left in the wood after cleaning will slowly come out and darken/color the surface, along with some help from oxidation from the air. Time will provide a really good color and authentic military look.
What he said...seriously.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Hollinger
daveboy
Dave, I've done just that and had them come out perfect. :)
Beautiful, Johnny, but NRA guns always get me mad... when I was looking for just one '03 to show what the M1 replaced, I found a beautiful NRA at the Stratford, CT. show for $200. It had a Redfield sight, however, and I wanted a regular GI. When I mentioned this to the seller, he said he had another one at home that was perfect and in the box that he would sell for $250. I offered to follow him home and buy it, but he said no, he would bring it to the Allentown, PA. show next weekend. I offered to pay him now, but he also refused that, saying, "Don't worry, it's yours, I'll hold it under the table."
The next weekend I set out for A'town, but Murphy's Law decreed a traffic jam on the way, and I arrived a half hour after the show had opened. I raced around the room until I found the guy and asked for the '03. "Oh," he said, "I thought you weren't coming, so I sold it." If he were not so old, I would have punched him in the teeth.
Larry Kaufman had bought it and he showed it to me later -- mint perfect and gorgeous, nicest '03 I've ever seen. That was 30 years ago and I still get angry when I think about it.
OK, I will ask for a cherry/brown combo.
Hi Charlie,
The time is 0655 local on a Sunday morning . The sun's not up yet but it's good shooting light , given local conditions and a good Dutch scope.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie59
The date is 11 Sep 2011.
Please run a search of my posts on this forum ( milsurps .com ) going back 6 months , a year , 2 years , whatever floats your fishing boat.
News you can use. Special Comparted Infomation etc.
Zaytun , dude.
I hope this thread does not get locked.
Gotta go.
That is beautiful. I would sure like to see a picture of the whole rifle. JoeQuote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Peppers
I'm not really set up to do full length shots, but here goes. The rifle is a 1916 Special Target sold to NRA members. It was a service rifle with a star gaged barrel. The barrel does not have a star gage record number, and doesn't have the star gage mark on the muzzle. Those markings did not show up until 1922.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe W
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