Black Beauty

[imarangemaster]

That's what I call it now, as the black walnut stock is so dark! I finally got the matching black walnut IO hand guard for my HI stock. It is ready to go into the shadow box with some of my dad's Iwo Jima mementos. It is all correct mid-war Inland except: the front sight, Type II rear sight, Type II barrel band, and sling. It shoots so well that I am not replacing the rear sight and barrel band. The stock is a long channel with an "HI" in the sling well and a seriffed "P" on the front of the grip. No sign of a crossed cannon cartouche. In the pictures in the bright sunlight, the stock looks redder and lighter than it really is. From 10 feet away, it looks almost black in reality.

Information

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[painter777]

RM,
What serial range is your Inland?
And it has a long barrel channel? Not seeing many of those lately.
Really looking nice....

Congrats,
Charlie-painter777

[G26ster]

Nice carbine! I have a stock just like it, so dark it looks almost black. I believe mine was stained that way by someone, as the inside is just as dark, if not darker. I'm thinking about stripping it and restaining. Not sure yet. Were stocks ever this dark from the factory? Here it is on my Rock-0la.

[imarangemaster]

The stock was a CMP take off that had a small crack in the for-end. I got it from a guy that repairs them for $50 including shipping. Unfortunately he is out of them now. The Inland came from CMP in an I cut RMC that I sold and put it in a walnut SA potbelly. I wanted it in an earlier stock for the shadow box, though, so picked up this HI. It is a really neat stock.

Serial number is 3,095.253. Should be the original 12-43 barrel, which has ME of 1+

[imarangemaster]

I didn't start out to make it all "correct" Inland when I got it from CMP. the barreled receiver, bolt, slide, etc were all Inland when I got it. I was thinking the trigger housing was all Inland too, when I got it, but realized today when looking at my carbine club reporting sheets that the complete, correct, Inland trigger housing group was from the Underwood I had. That trigger group had an EI flip safety, but I switched that for a push-button. 20 years of using an 870 Remmy as an LE shotgun has me looking for the push safety!

---------- Post added at 05:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:51 PM ----------

Nice carbine! I have a stock just like it, so dark it looks almost black. I believe mine was stained that way by someone, as the inside is just as dark, if not darker. I'm thinking about stripping it and restaining. Not sure yet. Were stocks ever this dark from the factory? Here it is on my Rock-0la.

I like the dark stocks, myself!

[painter777]

Depending on how dark the walnut was, many stocks were never stained when made.
For example, Lumb Woodworking shaped and fixed minor defects , while tossing out the rejects. They were reported to have made stocks from Walnut, Birch and Maple. They applied a walnut stain to only the lighter areas of these stocks. Then all were treated with a coat of tinted Tung Oil.
The process at Lumb was considered typical of all the other stock makers.
The natural tanin and other oils found in Cedar, Walnut, Maple and Cherry darken fast as the process of oxidation takes place.
I have stocks here that were completely stripped a year ago that have already greatly darkened.

A early report stated that Lumb Woodworking sent their stocks out after final inspection with the LW logo to the point of use. This to include IBM, Springfield Armory and to Jewell Manufacturing.

The information about the use of Tung Oil was courtesy of Lumb Woodworking to the Carbine Club's member doing the research.
Newsletter #20, June 1, 1978

At the time of this report there was thought that some stocks furnished by Jewell Mfg were sub-contracted by Lumb. This may explain some of the LJ, PJ and LW marked stocks.
Unless there is newer information I'm not familiar with.

Just keep in mind..... Not all stocks were stained.

FWIW,
Charlie-painter777

[painter777]

G26ster,
Split a piece of walnut.
You'll see grain that is almost black. Many shades lighter also, depends on the cut.
Add some oil and it darkens even more.
Yes many came that dark from the stock makers.
Add 60+ years of grime and repeated oiling and there darker yet.
Nice Pic !

Cheers,
Charlie-painter777

[imarangemaster]

A friend of mine had a carbine that had a cherry wood stock. Gorgeous!!!!!!!