Refinsh Stock on Win. 1876?

[ohiochuck]

My Win. 1876 butt stock looks black. What is best to strip and what finish to reapply to give it the Win look?
Thanks!

[larryo_1]

Ohio Chuck:
So you want to refinish the wood on your '76.  Okay--first off do not us sandpaper but rather use a plastic scraper and scrape that finish off and then using 4 ought steel wool and buff it down good.  You should wet the wood to raise the grain and then repeat the process till it is as smooth as a baby's butt.  then, as I did, get some "Fiebings Leather Dye" in Dark Brown color and swab it on the wood.  Let it dry and put on as many coats as you think you need until you get the color you want.  It took only two for my stock.  Then comes the fun part.  I put on 5 hand rubbed coats of linseed Oil allowing plenty of drying time between coats and for the final coat I used Tung Oil and rubbed it good also.  Why Tung Oil?  Good question.  It is because a pure linseed oil finish will darken over time and will water stain.  By using the Tung oil this prevents this.  You could use just only Tung oil but that is up to you.

Just remember one thing out of all this---do not use sandpaper on that stock as you will wind up removing enough wood to go below the metal parts--ie--the butt plate and the frame, etc.  Just scrape it with some plastic pieces.  Hope this helps.  You can get hold of Grizzly Adams and he may be able to tell you who it was that did all this the first time.

[dusty texian]

Hey Ohiochuck ,I had the same problem with one of my 1876 Winchesters . The stocks had what looked like varnish added years ago .The re-varnish had turned a dark - dark brown .I could not even see the natural wood grain . After a few yrs. of thinking leave it or try to clean it . I decided to clean it with ,fine steel wool and linseed oil . I would rub the linseed oil on and polish the wood with the grain . The outer coat of varnish came off easy as it was gummy or thick . Soon I could see the wood grain starting to show . I was careful not to take off more than I needed to show the wood grain .The stocks cleaned up good and the wood still stands proud against metal .This was done over a couple of months and many dry and rub dry and rub .  I wanted the wood to keep the old look and show its grain thats what I got . The rifle is a circa 1889 45-75 brown plum in metal color . And I did not want to damage the antique apperance . That is why I took so long in deciding to remove the old ADDED finish . I am glad that I did . The rifle looks great . As of now the rifle sits with Linseed oil finish and looks the 123 yrs . old it is .  If I can figure out how to post a picture here of the old 76 .I will . By the way I had it at the range yesterday shot it at 50 yd. 350 grn. from ogiginal mould and 72 grn.ff black . She still roars and hits where you point it . Hope this helps .