No.4 Mk1 wood

[mrandig]

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 BLO 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.

[browningautorifle]

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.

[mrclark303]

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.

[browningautorifle]

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.

[mrandig]

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 BLO the same way. The forend was actually close to the color of walnut un-oiled, but with a light hand rubbed coat of BLO, 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!

[Patrick Chadwick]

A photo of the barrel channel would be helpful, as you are likely to find a more natural wood surface there.