What have I got here?

[Ovidio]

I found the sorce of the info about the dermatitis caused by the "urushi", a finishing substance used by Japanese arsenals: "Dermatitis from Contact with Varnish of Japanese Rifles," Archives of Dermatology and Syphilology 55 (1947), pages 110 - 111.
Just be careful, seems to be a nasty reaction.

[Aragorn243]

What they used for the finish has a similar substance that's in poison ivy and poison oak from what I've read. It's fin so long as it isn't disturbed but can cause a reaction in some. I'm not allergic to it, one of the few. Never had poison ivy in my life but my family members have gotten it from the clothes that I was wearing.

[browningautorifle]

Sounds positively hazardous, this finish they used. I wonder if it's because it's so old that the structure has changed? I'd be doing a liquid strip and redo...with gloves.