All Matching and How Do I Repair the Finish on the Stock

[GeeRam]

It is definitely rack wear. I saw the rifle in the rack and the wear mark corresponds to the rack. The M1A I purchased from the same rack/collection has the same mark corresponding to the rack. I know how to fix the M1A so no problem there.

Like I said, that glossy finish is not the original stock finish, its a post war applied oil or more likely varnish finish.
The rack has worn that away to the original finish underneath.
So, do you want to return all the stock to a wartime look or the post-war applied civilian look?

EDit: You've already answered this as I was typing - LOL!

[Singer B]

Like I said, that glossy finish is not the original stock finish, its a post war applied oil or more likely varnish finish.
The rack has worn that away to the original finish underneath.
So, do you want to return all the stock to a wartime look or the post-war applied civilian look?

EDit: You've already answered this as I was typing - LOL!

If the owner approves it, it will go back to original. After reading other threads here, I know the RLO will only have limited penetration due to the stock being a laminated construction. The other clue I missed was the glue color. My rifle has the red undertone from the red glue. This one, as a late war rifle, could have either red or white so it will be interesting to see which one it is once the varnish is stripped.

[GeeRam]

It's an early 'b' block code, so made in Jan/Feb '44, and likely has a late '43 made stock, made for J.P.Sauer by Haenel, as most were up until early 1944, after which the stocks for J.P Sauer were made for them by Mauser-Oberndorf.
You can tell its a Haenel made stock because it has the tell-tale smaller 25mm diameter take down disc on the butt, rather than 30mm used by most other makers.

Is the inside barrel channel of the stock dated?

[Singer B]

This is stamped inside the stock.

[GeeRam]

This is stamped inside the stock.

Yep, Bn is the code for the laminate supplier for the stock, Sauer (or rather Haenel) appears to have changed laminate supplier in late 43, as most of the stocks from late '42 up to Nov 43 are coded Na.
The 2 48 43, is 2 day of the 48th week of 1943, so 30th November 1943, which fits with a Jan/Feb built rifle.

[ssgross]

that glossy finish is not the original stock finish

A cabinet scraper peels that off uniformly, without damaging the original color of the underlying wood. As far as what to do after that, it generally depends on the rifle. I'll use plain linseed oil if things already look pretty nice. Watco danish oil (dark) is in every hardware store and works well to blend in colors across a mottled or stained stock. Not trying to make it look new or newer again, just well maintained with normal service wear.

[Singer B]

The varnish came off very easily. I used a lot of Qtips getting into the small areas. I decided to go with the BLO since the finish on my AR41 appears to be a little more durable than just RLO. First coat went on last night and the second will be applied when I get home from work. The stock does not appear to be sanded but I was disappointed that there were none of the usual stock stampings under all of that varnish. Had they stopped stamping the stocks by then?

[GeeRam]

The stock does not appear to be sanded but I was disappointed that there were none of the usual stock stampings under all of that varnish. Had they stopped stamping the stocks by then?

They did reduce stock stampings from '42 onwards, but didn't stop doing so.
For 43 and 44, there was the simple eagle H acceptance stamp for Heer on the butt side in normal place (not many were L or M stamped by then) as well as a J.P.Sauer e/WaA37 stamp on the underside edge of the butt by the heel.

[Singer B]

They did reduce stock stampings from '42 onwards, but didn't stop doing so.
For 43 and 44, there was the simple eagle H acceptance stamp for Heer on the butt side in normal place (not many were L or M stamped by then) as well as a J.P.Sauer e/WaA37 stamp on the underside edge of the butt by the heel.

I'll look again. If it was sanded, it had to have been very lightly since there is still a good edge around the buttplate.

[Singer B]

Here are the "before" pictures....