I recently acquired a pre 64 "94"(30-30) and the stock needs to be refinished. The previous owner transported it in the bed of a pick up unprotected, it's at the local gunsmith getting the blueing fixed. I know there's kits available but I would like to restore back to the original satin finish. there is a small gouge missing, probably a knot. Is a stain accepting wood filler ok? This is a good straight shooting rifle and worth investing some bucks since I got it for the right price. My first Winchester. I now think I need a Trapper in 357 mag or 30-30, tough to find but I.m looking. Any advice is appreciated.
Welcome to G&G! How big is the "gouge"? I wouldn't use a commercial filler, it usually absorbs more stain than the surrounding wood and comes out as a large dark spot. If it's a 1\4" or larger in dia., I'd carefully drill it and use a walnut dowel to fill the hole. Cut the dowel nearly flush, then sand it down so that it blends with the surrounding surfaces. I use 220 grit for fast material removal, then go to 320, then finish with 400 for most guns. If you want a super slick finish, you can go to 600 or as fine as 15,000 grit(gives a glass-like finish but is a major pain-in-the-a**). Be sure to de-whisker the wood before finishing by hand-rubbing thin coats of boiled linseed oil into the wood. Let one coat dry, go over it lightly with either 600 wet-or-dry paper or 0000 steel wool, wipe with a tack cloth and repeat until you get the finish you want. This is just a quideline, there's a bit more to it, but it's too involved to post in extreme detail.
Strip the stock to a bare finish. Then begin applying boiled linseed oil. Every few months apply another coat, rub it in, the buff it with a soft cloth. Eventually, you will have a finish that enhances the natural wood, is waterproof, and if you get a scratch you can just treat the scratch with more linseed oil. I have seen a large number of older custom stocks treated in this manner. The urethane gloss finishes are prone to scratching and you cannot make them look good again.
Great information and help Toolman and Nathangdad. I won't get the reblued 94 back until after the 1st of the year but will definitely use boiled linseed oil on the stock. I forgot about linseed oil, I used to brush it on my fathers wooden extension ladders 50+ years ago, still remember the smell. The Winchester took a nice Whitetail deer this year close to my cabin near the Allegheny Nat. Forest.
I visited 2 local gunshops yesterday looking for a Winnie Trapper, both said come back after the holidays because a lot of guns come in on consignment to pay the credit card bills.
I don't like to take advantage of someones misfortune but thats business I guess!
Enough rambling.
Thanks again
