I learned the ammonia trick in my youth from a gunsmith who built and restored many original black powder firearms from American Revolutionary War times through the American Civil War and later. It will clean/remove the grunge and grime and redistribute what's left of the old oil finish without damaging anything. Just be sure and use it outdoors or in a well ventilated area so it doesn't damage you! It's fine to put wood in the sun once coated with RLO and it will speed up the absorption process because the grain opens up a bit but you must be careful to make sure the oil doesn't build up in the bearings and draws because things will change. I've never had a problem with warping but I suppose it's possible if you don't keep a careful eye on things. I put them in the sun too to dry them out after cleaning and rinsing. It will raise the grain and many of the little handling marks and scratches will disappear when you soak it down with oil and rub it out with 0000 steel wool. It won't affect markings or original character if done carefully. I haven't laid a scraper or sand paper on an original stock for years unless it's an absolute basket case. It's really a no-no from a collector's point of view. Cleaning and preservation is a different story.
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