Original finish on Swede m38

Big Tool · 03-07-2008, 12:42 AM

What did the swedes use as original finish on the rifles in 1941. I'm wanting to go back with a original finish. also what kind of wood did they use on the rifles. At first i thought it was walnut, but it dosen't have any grain hardly compared to the k31 walnut stocks. Wood is stripe pattern.

lefty o · 03-07-2008, 10:55 AM

swdish rifles had an oil finish. they used walnut, elm, beech, and maybe some other woods for stocks.

SwedeSteve · 03-07-2008, 04:11 PM

If the stock has a "tigerstripe" to it, I would guess beech. I have been searching and searching for a link to a place where I read a long time ago, that the original Swede finish was a combo of three things. Oil, and two others. It may have even been for another rifle! I haven't found it, but if I do I'll let you know.

Big Tool · 03-11-2008, 12:13 AM

Thanks for the response guys. After looking around i am going to assume it's beech. Stuff really is quiet ugly with the old finish off. Unlike walnut the beech makes all the scars and marks stand out. I'm probably going to go over it with a walnut stain to give it back some color and then a oil finish.

SwedeSteve · 03-11-2008, 01:42 AM

Yep, I am doing the same with a beat up Savage M24.

03-07-2008, 12:42 AM	#1
Big Tool Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MS Posts: 374	Original finish on Swede m38 What did the swedes use as original finish on the rifles in 1941. I'm wanting to go back with a original finish. also what kind of wood did they use on the rifles. At first i thought it was walnut, but it dosen't have any grain hardly compared to the k31 walnut stocks. Wood is stripe pattern.

03-07-2008, 04:11 PM	#3
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	If the stock has a "tigerstripe" to it, I would guess beech. I have been searching and searching for a link to a place where I read a long time ago, that the original Swede finish was a combo of three things. Oil, and two others. It may have even been for another rifle! I haven't found it, but if I do I'll let you know. __________________ You can tune a piano, but you can't Tuna Fish!

03-11-2008, 01:42 AM	#5
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	Yep, I am doing the same with a beat up Savage M24. __________________ You can tune a piano, but you can't Tuna Fish!

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03-07-2008, 10:55 AM	#2
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,240	swdish rifles had an oil finish. they used walnut, elm, beech, and maybe some other woods for stocks.

03-11-2008, 12:13 AM	#4
Big Tool Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MS Posts: 374	Thanks for the response guys. After looking around i am going to assume it's beech. Stuff really is quiet ugly with the old finish off. Unlike walnut the beech makes all the scars and marks stand out. I'm probably going to go over it with a walnut stain to give it back some color and then a oil finish.