What color were Garands from the factory?

[Amsdorf]

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.

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[Bill Hollinger]

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.

[Bob Seijas]

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.

[Amsdorf]

Again, thank you gents. I have to pick between a brown stain and more of cherry stain.

Decisions. Decisions.

[Bill Hollinger]

Mix them!

[Amsdorf]

The more I think of it, I think I will go with a bright "day glow" orange, you know, just to be different.

[Ericc]

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.

[Charlie59]

I don't fool around with any kind of stain. I use linseed oil exclusively, and let time take care of the coloration.
Charlie

[Johnny Peppers]

As Bob mentioned, this is an NRA Sales rifle from 1916. Never saw any cosmoline.

[Bill Hollinger]

Johnny, that is gorgeous! That finger groove is so sharp and crisp! Wow!!!