Stock Nose Deteriorating

[imntxs554]

I live in So, TX right by the Gulf Coast. I did remove the Stock to look it over and there is a small piece right by the Mag Catch inside the Stock that kinda looks like the front. I do have some Raw linseed oil is using Tung oil better in a high humid area like where I live and should I wipe it all over the Stock or just that area. The Stock looks nice except for the front and that little piece, Thanks for that info . Does it matter what oil one should use depending on the humidity and If the oil is causing this is there a way to Stop this reaction without harmimg it. I sure want to SAVE this Stock that's why all the Questions. Thanks for the Help I really appreciate it.

Frank

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[Seaspriter]

live in So, TX right by the Gulf Coast. I did remove the Stock to look it over and there is a small piece right by the Mag Catch inside the Stock that kinda looks like the front. I do have some Raw linseed oil is using Tung oil better in a high humid area like where I live and should I wipe it all over the Stock or just that area. The Stock looks nice except for the front and that little piece, Thanks for that info . Does it matter what oil one should use depending on the humidity and If the oil is causing this is there a way to Stop this reaction without harmimg it. I sure want to SAVE this Stock that's why all the Questions. Thanks for the Help I really appreciate it. Frank

Frank, I live on the Gulf too. It's always humid here, and every space where guns are stored needs ventilation to keep the humidity under 65%, else fungus and other rot will set in.

First, do not oil soak your gun with RLO -- it never dries, will be sticky, attract dirt, and turn yellow then chocolate brown over time. RLO was used as a treatment in the field, but was never used as the original treatment of M-1 stocks. Tung Oil is much better both as a water repellent and as a prevention of fungus.
Second, (assuming the stock is already removed), I'd clean out all the excess oil as outlined in my earlier thread. The area around the Mag Catch is probably from oil rot when lots of oil was poured into the bolt chamber.
Third, you have a choice of carving out the rotted wood and then splicing in new wood, or using epoxy to stabilize the rotten area and build it up. (Do the first option if you are good a woodwork, or the latter if woodwork is not your forte).
Fourth, for the repairs to the fore-end, I'd mix some walnut sawdust and glue and work it into the cracked areas, then sand smooth when dry. You may have to apply stain to the repaired area to get a good color match.
Fifth, I'd apply a couple of coats of Tung Oil (follow directions on the container) to the entire stock, inside and out. Where you made the repairs to the fore-end, you might mix a little stain in with the Tung Oil to cover the repairs.
Sixth, inside the receiver chamber of the stock I'd apply a 50/50 mixture of Beeswax and Mineral Jelly (Vaseline) (heat in a double boiler to mix). This will prevent gun oil from further deteriorating the wood on the inside. Also do this for the barrel channel, the screws on the butt plate, and any where metal contacts wood.
Then reunite the barrel/receiver to the stock. Give the stock a good coat of wax, like BriWax (available at Ace Hardware). You will like the results.

That should do it.