Steaming the dents.

[ssgross]

Post some pics when it's all done?
Sounds like you had a very hard topcoat on what was there already. I did an old Glenfield 70 for my kids a while back that was like that. Stock looked like it was under water, but with scratches chips and dings from being tossed around behind a tractor seat for years. So hard the cabinet scraper would hardly touch it, but like you said a touch of heat to soften and it peeled off with the scraper in big long curls. Oil finish was underneath, so I didn't sand. I dyed my linseed oil with alkanes root smooth over and revive some more color, and all was perfect.

Pour yourself a beer, you did good!