Carved Initials in Stock Grip

[usabaker]

I found and purchased a really nice Winchester Model 70 Pre-64 stock that still has the steel buttplate. The only issue with it is that one of the owner carved their initials in the bottom of the grip.

I've been tossing different ideas around on how to remedy this and the three I have come up with are:

1. Since the carving is less than .057" at the deepest part, is to shave down and blend the wood until the initials are gone.

2. Make a Walnut or Ebony wood grip plate that will be fitted and blended in to cover the initials.

3. Install a Post 70 Winchester plastic grip plate, this won't really fit correctly because unlike the Post 70's the grip is not a defined oval shape.

Anyone here had to deal with this before, what did you do? Am I missing any options?

I'm only fixing it because I don't want someone else initials on my rifle. This 1940 Winchester M70 is going to be a hunting rifle, not a collector. Thanks for your thoughts in advance,

Bill

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[rcathey]

Inlay a diamond of your preferred material and carve in your own initials

[usabaker]

Inlay a diamond of your preferred material

Ahhh! that one is a great idea! Since this is getting passed down to my kids you might be on to something.

UPDATE:

Just measured and the Initials are too big to overlay a dimond pattern

[rcathey]

No need for it to be a diamond...it can be any shape you'd like!

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[WarPig1976]

Yes, just chisel off. Shape with a scraper and some 400 grit. Tape off and spray on a few light coats of clear lacquer. Let it cure, rub out with burlap. They’ll never know it happened.

[browningautorifle]

I'd sand it down but same result.

[usabaker]

Yes, just chisel off. Shape with a scraper and some 400 grit.

Probably what I'll end up doing fast and easy. But I did just pick up two really nice chunks of walnut. The owner of a slab shop just gave them too me.

---------- Post added at 08:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 PM ----------

I'd sand it down but same result.

Thats a lot of sanding

[browningautorifle]

Thats a lot of sanding

Not with 35 grit...and then decrease. It would take 15 seconds...

[Sunray]

"...That's a lot of sanding..." Not if you have, or have access, to a belt sander. Or a mill. Lot of that kind of thing depends on who you know and/or what machines you have access to. Even a band saw would be better than a chisel.
"...nice chunks of walnut..." Those will require drying and then shaping and sanding, etc. etc.

[Flying10uk]

I'd sand it down but same result.

I'd sand it off too, probably starting with a disc sander and then switch to hand sanding, as Jim says, in the direction of the grain.

Or a mill. Lot of that kind of thing depends on who you know and/or what machines you have access to. Even a band saw would be better

I'm not quite sure were you're coming from with this, Sunray, but I think that you risk turning a small job into a big job if you are not careful.