Another stock finish question

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

I'm cleaning up a .22cal. No.2 Mk.4 converted by Parker Hale in 1949. The wood has a varnish finish and I'm wondering if it was applied by PH or a subsequent owner. The rifle has British commercial proofs but no import or export markings, so I imagine it's been in the USA for some time. I do see a small run here and there and they missed the spots on the rear handguard hidden by the sight protector. At this point I'm leaning toward the varnish being Bubba's handiwork rather than Parker Hale. Comments?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

I'd go along with the bubba theory................. Looks like varnish has ben slapped on it to me

[louthepou]

Peter, when a rifle was receiving a fresh coat of linseed, would it have been disassembled? Because, I'm thinking that often they would just give a coat on a complete, assembled rifle, thus not coating that part of the handguard protected by the rear sight guard (or rather: the guard, sight, rear )

I'm just saying this based on many rear handguard showing this mark where the sight guard was positioned.

Lou

[Peter Laidler]

You're right Lou, the rifle was oiled assembled. But believe me, the average crunchie/squaddie/soldier didn't do any linseed oiling. He wiped it down and put it away. The rifle in question in this thread just looks varnished to me Only my opinion though. Linseed has that very 'I've been cared for by a thoughtful owner' look about it. Whereas French or Button polish has that 'I've been prepared for the Quarter Guard at the Beating of the Retreat Ceremony at Government House on Friday evening' look about it. While varnish has that sort of '.......get a shift on, I'm off out to meet my girlfriend in 10 minutes' look about it