Correct stock finish for M1903?

[WarPig1976]

Springfield Armory's stocks don't need oiling because they're in a temp and humidity controlled environment. Look at antique firearms, instruments, furniture. If it wasn't cared for the wood shrivels like Mr. Happy in the pool.

The 4:1 mix? That's basically "Gunny Paste" which is in reality a wood waxing recipe going way back before there where Gunnys.
I wouldn't use it because, well, why wax a milsurp stock?

[MilsurpMM]

Springfield Armory's stocks don't need oiling because they're in a temp and humidity controlled environment. Look at antique firearms, instruments, furniture. If it wasn't cared for the wood shrivels like Mr. Happy in the pool.

The 4:1 mix? That's basically "Gunny Paste" which is in reality a wood waxing recipe going way back before there where Gunnys.
I wouldn't use it because, well, why wax a milsurp stock?

Well why is the stock missing that glossy finish I see every other m1903 rifle have? (Btw mine is a Remington)

[rcathey]

Well why is the stock missing that glossy finish I see every other m1903 rifle have? (Btw mine is a Remington)

Deja vu!

[WarPig1976]

Well why is the stock missing that glossy finish I see every other m1903 rifle have?

That's been answered.

[daveboy]

Like others have mentioned, decades of handling causes the wood fibers to themselves be polished. Regardless of the type of penetrating oil you apply, the hardness and smoothness of the wood fibers on the surface are responsible for the look you are going for. Try a little 000 steel wool to slightly buff the wood fibers when you apply another coat of BLO, or whatever penetrating oil you are using. Rough wood (how it was originally) will never take on that aged, deep semi-gloss look unless the wood fibers are compressed or smoothed. Handling, and many years of polishing and oiling will create the perfect look, but polishing the wood with a little steel wool, or other fine abrasive, will come close.

[Somerset]

Researching while I was restoring an O3A3 and I found that handguards were frequently broken and replaced. This resulted in the handguards being of a different finish than the rest of the stock. This was born out when I found many replacement handguards still available. Apparently the military ordered a large number and had them on standby for replacing the broken ones.. So hand guards of a different finish than the rest of the stock is very common.

[mrclark303]

All I would add is this, as a military rifle, the finish should be a nice Semi luster, only my opinion, but I hate a glossy Military stock, strictly the preserve of sporting rifles...

I always find the best way of achieving this (assuming the wood is dry and clean) is to use a 3M red scotchbrite to give the wood a silky finish and slightly compress /Polish the fibers, then Raw linseed oil until it stops drawing in, followed by buffing with a microfiber cloth to the desired finish.

Works for me anyway, everyone seems to have their personal favorite approach.

[painter777]

I've been trying to put numerous coats of BLO on the stock

After first putting multiple coats of BLO on it.... How is it that one could expect RLO to penetrate the now sealed in Hard BLO finish?

[Brian Dick]

He could wash the wood with clear ammonia and a Scotchbrite sponge/scrubby pad. Then rinse with cold water, dry well and reapply the raw linseed oil as original. He's already put BLO to it so might as well leave it as is in my opinion. I'm not really sure if the chemical dryers in BLO seal the surface of the wood or not. I was taught that wood needs to be treated as a living thing for maximum service life. It needs to breath and not be sealed. I realize that goes against most commercial gunstock finishing techniques but the wood does dry out terribly under commercial plastic, epoxy and varnish type finishes.

[painter777]

Brian,
I agree 100%
Just worried if he keeps lathering on the RLO OVER THE BLO he may end up with a sticky mess.
If the BLO will allow some RLO to penetrate, I'd go real easy on the RLO.
If mine, at this current point, I'd leave as is also.
Over time with buffing and regular handling, down the road he could then try and see if she'll accept RLO.

Cheers
Charlie-Painter777