Arisaka Stock Color Question

[WarPig1976]

Nit-picking here, but the figure of the stock is being discussed not the grain.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I don't want to argue about the nits, but that extremely strong contrast in the growth rings is normally only the result of staining, as the rapidly-grown (softer and wider) summer rings have a looser grain structure than the slower-grown winter (harder and narrower) rings and therefore take up more stain.

In other words, as others have pointed out, the stock has been scrubbed and stained.

Staining is pretty much irreversible, unless you want to seriously attack the wood with chemicals, practically bleaching the wood to death. So there's no point in worrying about the original finish - there's none left and you won't get it back. The stock is FUBARed for collectors, so clean it, smooth the surface if necessary, oil it and shoot it.

[MilsurpMM]

The thing about wood is it's very hard to cover up the grain. What makes Arisaka stocks so "plain" if you will is the lack of any grain in the wood. Now the color itself of the rifle is fine. Colors vary along the entire spectrum of light tan, through reddish shades to very dark, almost black. I have one of each although the very dark one is a Type 38, not a Type 99. What makes this one "odd" is the extreme grain. The wood is not what is typically used for these rifles. I do notice that the bolt is a late war bolt, plain handle and suspect that by this point they were using whatever wood they could get their hands on. I did run a quick search on Arisaka images on Bing which anyone can do and found two rifles with similar graining. One is significant because it is on the butt stock. Lower half is plain old no grain wood, upper half has the sharp crisp graining like on the fore end of your rifle.

Grain in wood can be emphasized by the direction and placement of the cuts. Some woods are more prominent than others but swirly grains are typical near and around branches, etc. So this is not a typical "cut" for an Arisaka stock but it doen't mean it's not an original stock. It probably is. The finish remains what is in question and I don't think it's possible to determine if it is original based on these few photos.

There is a strong possibility someone did notice the wood and worked to bring it out more than it had been. You should look at the overall condition of the wood, dings, scratches, sharpness of the edges, etc. Lack of dings or scratches and rounded edges are all signs of sanding. Is the metal recessed or is the wood still "large" and sticking out further. Are the barrel bands tight or loose?

Well without a doubt it was refinished because there's virtually no dings or marks. In fact, there was a crack in the butt stock and it appears to be filled in with something so I know the stock was refinished.

I know that Type 38s typically had that darker color, but i can't seem to find an Type 99 with a similar brown color to mine (without that reddish tint)

Do you have any pictures of Type 99s with a similar wood stain color to mine that was original?

[WarPig1976]

Do you have any pictures of Type 99s with a similar wood stain color to mine that was original?

I'm a little confused here. You've been told by a few guys who know what they're talking about and acknowledge your stock has been humped. The Japanese didn't have "Minwax Dark Walnut stain", so no, nobody has pictures of a rifle like yours because it's humped, bubba'ed, not authentic.
It sounds like your hoping against all hope you can pass it off as legit. Must be the city boy in me......

[MilsurpMM]

I'm a little confused here. You've been told by a few guys who know what they're talking about and acknowledge your stock has been humped. The Japanese didn't have "Minwax Dark Walnut stain", so no, nobody has pictures of a rifle like yours because it's humped, bubba'ed, not authentic.
It sounds like your hoping against all hope you can pass it off as legit. Must be the city boy in me......

i want it to pass off as cosmetically legit because if it doesn't look like how a Type 99 Arisaka should look like, there's no point in me having the rifle. I mean really, is that hard for you to understand?

[Sentryduty]

I did just re-read the whole thread and have drawn two conclusions based on everyone's excellent contributions.

1. As an purist collector rifle, the stock has been re-finished in a non-original manner, and the only practical path to correct this now is to obtain a replacement furniture set. Full Stop.

2. As a shooter rifle, I see a very good rifle that shows well, I quite like the appearance personally, but it is not quite original as the experienced members have explained.

Given those two assessments the real decision comes from what do you wish to do with this rifle?

Still, it is a nice looking rifle overall.

[MilsurpMM]

I did just re-read the whole thread and have drawn two conclusions based on everyone's excellent contributions.

1. As an purist collector rifle, the stock has been re-finished in a non-original manner, and the only practical path to correct this now is to obtain a replacement furniture set. Full Stop.

2. As a shooter rifle, I see a very good rifle that shows well, I quite like the appearance personally, but it is not quite original as the experienced members have explained.

Given those two assessments the real decision comes from what do you wish to do with this rifle?

Still, it is a nice looking rifle overall.

Yeah, while the stock is one of the best looking rifle stocks I've seen, my only 2 options are to either to sell the rifle, or buy a new stock for it.

Maybe i'll come across a nice stock for it and i can buy it, or maybe I can get a good deal and sell the rifle to a store

[Sentryduty]

That seems like a solid plan, a fellow never knows what will turn up from one day to the next in this hobby, but patience does often pay off.

[MilsurpMM]

That seems like a solid plan, a fellow never knows what will turn up from one day to the next in this hobby, but patience does often pay off.

Very true. Thanks for the honest input even though it was a little unfortunate for me lol.

[Marines55]

As stated before, there are arisaka stocks that had dark brown finish. These are made by very specific arsenals and only in very specific series. The grain of the wood used in stocks such as the one in the original post also come from two very specific arsenals and in only three to four different series. I have some pics of the wood grain and dark brown finish on rifles in my collection I will post a little later. These dark brown finishes and odd wood grain are not uncommon in mid production type 99short rifles. More to come later