Wood Question

[GregM]

I've noticed that the stocks on the old Endfields, Mausers, and other army rifles often have numerous cosmetic flaws --- dark streaks, spots, and splotches.

Was the wood's appearance not a high priority for the military arms manufacturer's?

[Old Dude]

I'm guessing that it wasn't the highest priority. After all, they weren't made for parades. Also, I think age and general usage doesn't help the appearance of wood much. For long guns made during wartime, the emphasis was on function. It was considered beautiful if it worked and if it killed the enemy.

[wrench]

Yep, terrible wood on some of those stinky old things....



They probably didn't look that bad when they were new, but some of them had hard lives, and some didn't.

[GregM]

Yep, terrible wood on some of those stinky old things....



They probably didn't look that bad when they were new, but some of them had hard lives, and some didn't.

Beautiful specimens.

I have tried my hand at restoring several of these old soldiers. I've been able to smooth out the rough patches, but I can't seem to get rid of the dark spots and streaks. Is it just a question of how much sanding I'm willing to do? Or are these blemishes deep in the wood?

[princewally]

I have tried my hand at restoring several of these old soldiers.

Personally, I don't mind if my mil-surps look well-used. Restoring them is removing their history, in my mind.

[1911fan]

When I was a kid, I lived down the street from H&R when they were building m14's and they still had thousands and thousands of stocks left for M1's, They had all this wood stacked up in warehouses.
The stock cutter did something like 10 or 12 stocks at a time. The guy would pick up a blank, chuck it into the machine and go on to the next, checking for grain and color was non existant at that point. Maybe when the blanks were being roughed the guy took a peak to try to get the grain running through the wrist, but I would be surprised, WHen the machine was loaded, they hit the switch and went out side for a smoke, when the cig was done, the machine was too. They would take each inletted and carved stock out and swinging it by the forearm smack it against a carpeted post in the room. iF it held, it was put in the good pile, if it broke, or cracked, it was firewood. I remember sitting in that room for a half a day when school was out as the neighbor's dad worked there and we got to hang around.


dark spots are often some sort of oil or solvent that has penetrated.

I use EZ off oven cleaner, with a bare stripped stock, I wrap the affected spot in paper towl after I hose it down wet with the cleaner, leave it sit for a couple of hours and repeat as needed. I have taken some pretty tar colored specimens back from the dead.

[GregM]

When I was a kid, I lived down the street from H&R when they were building m14's and they still had thousands and thousands of stocks left for M1's, They had all this wood stacked up in warehouses.
The stock cutter did something like 10 or 12 stocks at a time. The guy would pick up a blank, chuck it into the machine and go on to the next, checking for grain and color was non existant at that point. Maybe when the blanks were being roughed the guy took a peak to try to get the grain running through the wrist, but I would be surprised, WHen the machine was loaded, they hit the switch and went out side for a smoke, when the cig was done, the machine was too. They would take each inletted and carved stock out and swinging it by the forearm smack it against a carpeted post in the room. iF it held, it was put in the good pile, if it broke, or cracked, it was firewood. I remember sitting in that room for a half a day when school was out as the neighbor's dad worked there and we got to hang around.


dark spots are often some sort of oil or solvent that has penetrated.

I use EZ off oven cleaner, with a bare stripped stock, I wrap the affected spot in paper towl after I hose it down wet with the cleaner, leave it sit for a couple of hours and repeat as needed. I have taken some pretty tar colored specimens back from the dead.

Great story --- thanks! That's the sort of info I was looking for. I've seen very clean, pretty wood on some unrestored rifles, but I figured a lot of others were spotty when they left the factory.

[wrench]

As 1911fan said, lots of times the very dark black stains are oil or cosmoline soaked deep into the wood, or water stains that turned the wood dark.
If the stock is soaked in cosmoline, leave it lay in the sun, or heat it gently with a heat gun, or like I do, prop it up in front of my (gas) woodstove. Wipe it down every half hour or so, to remove some of the grease that has penetrated.
Otherwise, I limit myself to a brisk rubdown with a 50/50 mix of boiled linseed oil, and turpentine. Wipe off the icky gunk, let her dry, reassemble.
I like an old gun to look her age, not like a senior citizen in a miniskirt, trying to look young again.

[GregM]

Water stains --- that's something I hadn't considered.