Refinishing gun stock

[A/C guy]

I inherited a single shot 22 rifle (no collector value). I would like to refinish the stock. Strip the old finish, and apply some walnut stain.

What type of finish is easy to apply with good results? I am not looking for a real high gloss finish.

[1iarrowking]

Minwax Helmsman Spar Polyurathane does a great job if you spray it on with a spray gun. It comes in satin or high gloss . I've done both and the results were outstanding. Don't use indoor poly, it will not hold up under outdoor temperature changes. Of course if you want a really fine finish and want to work through about 10 or 12 coats, George Brother's Linspeed Oil is old school and the best.

[RockIsland]

I like tung oil. Many coats of hand rubbing for best results but it's worth it. I prefer it to a glossy look on most stocks. I also love the way it smells.

[aubie515]

Go to hardware store and they will offer many options and stain colors of your choice.

Lowes and Depot have a large selection...and I'm sure ACE will as well.

[Orlov556]

Lin Speed oil. Not linseed, linspeed. Comes out very nice and not glossy.

[theunrulychef]

Fiebings leather dye (alcohol stain) & boiled linseed oil.

Here's a couple pics:

[Orlov556]

BTW, there is nothing really wrong with stain per se, but it doesnt make much sense, IMHO.

Think about it, for the most part, the purpose of stain is to take cheap wood, like pine, and make it look like more expensive wood, like the walnut your stock is already made of.

Using linseed oil, you bring out the woods natural beauty, instead of covering it up with stain. Just my opinion, but i have had great luck on gun stocks using linseed oil.

[heatheroo]

I recommend Linspeed also. Truoil is nice but too glossy for my taste. Linspeed is more of a satin finish.

[A/C guy]

Thanks for the responses, the photos are great.

This is a low budget single shot Stevens/Savage. Where the finish has flaked off, it appears to be a light colored "white wood", not walnut. I think some stain is in order to darken the wood some degree.

I have narrowed it down to an oil finish of some type, most likely Minwax Antique Oil Finish. It appears to be an oil/varnish finish that gets high ratings for ease of use and durability on The High Road.

I did try linseed oil on a walnut stock many years ago. The color was good, but the finish was very "flat", no gloss at all. It was probably due to my inexperience, not enough coats, not enough rubbing.

[priell3]

I did the stock of a .22 I got for nothing. It went through these stages:

Refinished with Minwax Red Mahogany and sealed with clear satin spar urethane.