Original stock color of early M1s?

[Bruce McAskill]

During WW2 the government never used anything but raw linseed oil. A gloss reflecting stock was not considered to be of much value other then to get someone killed. There was NO Tung oil used on US stocks. One has to consider that the Tung oil was controlled by the Japanese so was a bit hard to import. The US stocks were dipped into a vat of warmed linseed oil. Once soaked enough they were removed, dripped dried and then wiped down and made ready for assembly on a M1 Garand or US 30 carbine. Flat finish so no light was reflected by the stock.

Information

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[jesse_]

I'm just going over what I read in the Canfield book. Page 125.

Apparently the first Tung trees were cultivated for oil in the US in 1927. FOR351/FR420: Tung Oil Production in Florida

1000 tons in 1939 and 152 million pounds of oil in 1952.

[jesse_]

As a side-note, I found some info on when Springfield stopped using logwood stain.

Also found in "The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations" pg 26.

[Bob Seijas]

government never used anything but raw linseed

Never say never unless you have seen them all

[ssgross]

Never say never unless you have seen them al

At least for '03s, some of the contractors who made replacement stocks stained theirs, but did not oil. I imagine it was the same for Gov. contracted replacement M1 stocks. I think I've seen pics somewhere of NOS M1 carbine stocks that were stained by the manufacturer. Don't hold me to it though...google won't tell me yet where I saw it.

[Bob Seijas]

Yes, it seems to be all over the lot, from yellow swamp wood WRAs to dark walnut. I recall seeing a document that showed the desired color on a sample stock and had directions on stain if one did not match it. Of course I can't find it now

[jesse_]

There is a book on the history of stocking the M1 carbine by Overton.

They paid attention to color and would use air-brushes on portions of sapwood or other inconstant portions to get the color correct.

They also did quite a bit of filling. They also had fixtures and tooling to take scrapped stocks from other manufacturers and rework them.

I'll see if I can post later this week.

They also made Garand stocks starting in 1952. All the way through and along with M14 stocks into the 60s.

According to the book the Pratt-Lambert company supplied Tung oil for M14 stock production.

[Bob Seijas]

SA National Match specs called for tung oil.

[browningautorifle]

They also had fixtures and tooling to take scrapped stocks from other manufacturers and rework them.

Interesting, is there any more on that? Like why they were scrapped or visuals? Any numbers?

[ssgross]

Like why they were scrapped or visuals?

Not saying it was the same for carbine stocks...but I went through 4 NOS scant field replacements, sending them all back with some sort of serious defect. They all came in original packaging, with gov. contract number printed on the side. First one had a mag cutoff recess that went all the way down to the bottom metal, second had a straight but way off-center inletting (obvious in the barrel channel and around the trigger), almost 1/4 inch off center. Correct width, but right side of the mag area was very thin. The third had almost 1/4inch extra gap behind the tang. All three came in their original packaging with the gov. contract number on the box, unstained. This discussion is starting to confirm my suspicion that the otherwise reliable retailer landed a pallet of factory seconds. The stained NOS scants at Numrich seem to be all Keystone. The inletting looks like it was scooped out by a spoon, but the fit is pretty spot on, with just enough room for minor finishing.