Mahogany Q-RMC stock

[Hercules Powder]

I hope there will be more information and input for this Mahogany Q-RMC Stock that will coincide with the Winchester Cherry stock in the Thread from a couple days ago.

The pictures pretty much tell the story.

I think the upside down Underwood rebuild .U. in front of the sling well shows it must have been in use prior to the commercial carbine rebuild process after the war. There is an uneven level that looks like it may have been a Highwood stock before the rebuild. The stock is in great shape, I don’t think it has ever been sanded or refinished. There is a strong impression from a type one barrel band and a very light impression from a type 2 or 3.

There is a 4.8 mil QHMC sitting inside it now, that’s the way I bought it but have no idea if they left the factory together. It has a Type one band on it that was on it when I got it.

Were Cherry and/or Mahogany handguards used at that time?

Attachment 16784 - Attachment 16785 - Attachment 16786 - Attachment 16787 - Attachment 16788 - Attachment 16789

John

Information

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[painter777]

H-P,
Unless your pictures are throwing me for a complete loop....
IMHO the stock has been stained over with a Alcohol based Dye/stain. These type Dyes/stains can penetrate thru oil top coats. More than likely a Red Mahogany color or one like it was used.

My reasons for stating it's been stained-
The slingwell with the real Q-RMC stamp shows the true color of the dye/stain used ( pic 5 ), which gives that area almost a solid stain color instead of showing any of the woods natural color. Once applied over end grain like this it's hard to completely wipe clean unless acting quickly with solvent.
Can you see how heavily the tint soaked in, thus covering up the general wear and tear you'd expect to find in there from a sling sliding back and forth? Look closer at the front edge of the slingwell and compare the color to the buttstock just to the left. You'll see farther back in the slingwell that the slanted part just before getting thru to the oiler slot that the inner egdes were missed with the new color. Compare the slingwell solid color to the oiler slot on the other side which didn't get dyed ( pic 2 ).
You can see signs of the dye on the wood that the buttplate would cover (pic 1 ), both on the bottom and outer corners or edges. Last Picture shows the left wood rail where the trigger housing/bolt will set with some over lapping inside with the new color.
Lastly the QHMC Crossed cannons stamp and .U. rebuild stamp have the same red look inside the stamp lines, showing it was colored over.
I'd be willing to bet if you looked it over out in the sun light you'd see signs of the stock being held in the inside near the wood bridge or behind the barrel channel and see more of the RED residue from handling it while staining it.
BTW- It is a Hi-wood cut down to a low-wood.

Using heavy bodied Dyes/stains can give a painted on look. Not the translucent color so commonly found on thinner bodied stains. Many like the Alcohol based stains because they will penetrate the existing finish, but it takes some practice. Thinning it is a must when going over end grain if that grain hasn't been treated with a type of pre-stain to limit it's penetration first.
It's a great looking legitimate stock that's just been tweeked with some color.
Very possible it's the original stock to your 4,8.

I'm about 100% that your WRA is Cherry, making it a rare find. I wish I could inspect that one in hand. I'm sure older long time collectors would also like to handle that WRA stock. You just don't see them. How many were made? How many could have survived?

Not trying to be rude, just trying to help;
Regards,
Charlie-painter777

[phil441]

When in doubt, ask Charlie!

[Hercules Powder]

Charlie, Thanks for your input I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

Am I understanding correctly that it’s actually a walnut stock that has had a stain applied to it to make it look like mahogany?

Can the stain be removed or better to leave as is?

John

[painter777]

Walnut it is ..
It's your call to change or leave as is. Even if following the steps below, end result is a stock thats been refinished, just a better color.
There's no way to brown it up without giving it more of a painted on look.
If it were mine.......
I'd try pulling some of the stain color with;
First- Lacquer thinner, giving it a complete wash down. May take 2-3 trys.
If Lacquer thinner isn't pulling enough color;
Second- Try MEK it's a hotter solvent that should pull the color. MEK drys fast, so you have to work quickly.

Either method requires no after neutralizing. Either method would result in having to re-apply a clear oil top coat of your choice.
I like warmed/thinned Boiled linseed oil.

As a LAST RESORT if the above methods don't give the results needed, Stripping the stock would be the next step.
A mild stripper should pull the color without bringing the walnut back to a raw state. Heavier/stronger stripper will bring the stocks color nearly back to it's original color.

Try the first 2 methods. If they don't make you happy. Post a after pic of what the resulting finish looks like and I can pass along better info for stripping the stock.
Hopefully one of the above methods will work for you. But don't panic if they don't all is not lost.
Fixing Bubba's refinish can be accomplished, it'll just take some elbow grease.

Note: Take a look at this Min Wax product used by a fellow member. I've never used it and am not sure if it would pull 'Stain' but may be worth a try before having to completely strip your finish.

Help from M1A1 Stock experts !!

Min Wax Refinisher.... http://www.minwax.com/products/speci...efinisher.html

HTH,
Charlie-painter777

P.S. No method mentioned here will harm any stock stamps or markings.

[Hercules Powder]

Charlie, Thanks a lot. I will try the first two methods and let you know how it turns out, maybe a week or two before I'll get a chance to work on it.

The mahogany stock turned out to be bogus but the cherry Winchester stock is real, one out of two isn't too bad. I didn't purchase either carbine because of the unusual wood it just worked out that way.

John