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  1. #1
    Legacy Member mrandig's Avatar
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    No.4 Mk1 wood

    Hi All:

    I've had this rifle sitting around for a while, until I got a few other projects out of the way.

    For starters, what is going on with the wood here? The butt stock is walnut, the handguard is beech, but what is the forend? It's very dark, almost black in color. This rifle has been completely cleaned, and has no stain; it only has a light coat of BLOicon as of these photos.

    I've ready many, many posts about color matching, staining, oil finishes, etc. I was just going to stain the handguard in walnut, and then finish everything with velvit oil. I'd like to get a red tint, so it's closer to what I started with.

    Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Looks like the tip of an Ishapore screw at the front of the mag well, is it? The markings make it Ishapore too, so I suspect the forestock is likely Mahogany. It looks like it too. No chance of making it lighter color. As for color matching, I think the directive was "If possible" and many places simply didn't have enough replacements that matched. Besides, for a service rifle it doesn't really matter.

    If you want the reddish tint, you'll need to start with fresh wood.
    Regards, Jim

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    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    It might just be oil blacked Walnut Jim, I've a forend from a similar ex Indian No4, with the typical Ishapore screw and that is black as night on outside, normal colour inside....

    I would photograph it if I could remember we're the hell I put it!

    It has to be said, many of these ex Indian No4/5 rifles are 'very' well used.

    So do please check carefully before shooting.
    Last edited by mrclark303; 11-19-2020 at 04:44 AM.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mrclark303 View Post
    It might just be oil blacked Walnut Jim
    I suppose, it could...but I'd be able to tell better after handling it. He says it's clean so I must guess it's free of oil. A complete look at this one might help. Maybe...he will... The grain doesn't look the same as the butt which is definitely walnut. Looks like Mahogany.
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member mrandig's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by browningautorifleicon View Post
    I suppose, it could...but I'd be able to tell better after handling it. He says it's clean so I must guess it's free of oil. A complete look at this one might help. Maybe...he will... The grain doesn't look the same as the butt which is definitely walnut. Looks like Mahogany.
    The butt is definitely walnut; the forend is a straight grain wood like Mahogany, but doesn't have the same tint or take up BLOicon the same way. The forend was actually close to the color of walnut un-oiled, but with a light hand rubbed coat of BLOicon, it went almost black. It was so, so, so dirty when I got it, i went straight to oven cleaner and saran wrap - so it was cleaned to the point I was concerned about it cracking from drying out. I'll see if I can't post a few better pics.

    Thanks!

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    Advisory Panel Patrick Chadwick's Avatar
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    A photo of the barrel channel would be helpful, as you are likely to find a more natural wood surface there.

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    Legacy Member mrandig's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Took me a few days to respond - I've got a couple projects going.

    I just popped out the trigger assembly and the magazine. Looking into the magazine well, I'm going to have to go with Jim - looks like Mahogany?

    I did add a little brown dye to darken the beech handguards - there's the red I was looking for!

    Attachment 112865Attachment 112866
    Last edited by mrandig; 11-29-2020 at 10:43 PM.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mrandig View Post
    looks like Mahogany
    They use the wood they have on hand...for this. They made Mahogany stocks and forestocks, pistol grips for their FN rifles too. They were just terrible, showed every thumbnail scratch. Also because they're soft, they made them thick.
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member mrandig's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mrclark303 View Post
    It has to be said, many of these ex Indian No4/5 rifles are 'very' well used.

    So do please check carefully before shooting.
    Spent a long time trying to clean tonight. I don't think I've ever seen so much fouling in a barrel. Were these never cleaned in the field?

    Attachment 113055

  19. #10
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    It's more like an individual issue. Didn't they take care of their rifles completely...doesn't look like it nor do the other examples I've seen.
    Regards, Jim

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