Me I prefer BLOicon/TRU-OIL on these older rifles as a finish I strip off the varnish, leave the wood natural and BLOicon (Boiled-Linseed oil) Takes close to 2 weeks it is worth it. And then TRU-OIL another 3-4 days I do not worry about it and awesome. As far as "Original Finnishicon" that is subject to whom/what you believe Me of Germanicon/Finnish Decent. Listened to dad/grandad/great grandad as they would speak of WWI and WWII the weapons production lines the stocks were cut set for receivers and screws then dunked into boiling linseed oil, dried,assembled and sent out that was it. Varnish/Shellac was an after war Preservative most soldiers returning home counted on the rifles for hunting, supplying the family meat needs. Keeping Linseed oil boiling or hot enough can get flammable Red Shellac Total American hang up Russiaicon did not use it was the importers trying to add $3 or $4 dollars to overall cost for a nickles worth of red shellac.