Military stock finish question

yblockhead

July 26, 2011 20:08

I've seen reference to a mix of 1/3 beeswax, linseed oil and turpentine for military stocks. I mixed up a batch tonight (smells nice enough to run the Mrs out of the garage!) Anybody have good/bad luck with this?
I'm putting together a Smith Corona 03A3 with an aftermarket "C" stock and I want it to achieve the 10' rule to make it look correct.

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  thorhammer

  July 26, 2011 20:43

  I had to match an M1 carbine handguard, I bought a few but none would match the original stock. I lightly sanded one and applied Minwax dark walnut stain and let it dry. Then buffed it with a rag using no finishing coat and it matched the stock perfectly.
  
  I also believe the miltary had recommended a coat of linseed oil on gunstocks in the field to protect them. I also feel you should experiment on scrap wood as linseed takes a long time to dry.
  
  my .02 cents good luck, Thor

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  nmyers

  July 27, 2011 03:00

  Everyone has their favorite "recipe".
  
  The US military never used a beeswax mixture for wood stocks. For many years they used boiled linseed oil, then changed over to pure tung oil.
  
  I prefer Formby's tung oil, diluted with paint thinner. 3-4 coats is usually enough. I rub with 0000 steel wool between coats & after the final coat. YMMV.
  
  
  
  Neal

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  MIKE WISKEY

  July 27, 2011 05:44

  the mix you mentioned works well, I've used it several times. boiled linseed oil works well to but takes several coats and is time consuming, same with tung oil.

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  firstharmonic

  July 27, 2011 06:20

  That three-part mixture is sometimes referred to as "gunny paste" for reasons easy to figure out. And Neal is right - there was never an official (as in Dept. of War/Defense) issue of any such mixture. But it has been reported to have been unofficially a barracks-made stock polish that saw use when service rifles still had wood stocks.
  
  I've never used it as the only finish on a gunstock but I apply it on all of my milsurp rifles as a final polish. Gives the wood a nice glow but not at all anything like a plasticy sheen.

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  dcs shooters

  July 27, 2011 06:44

  That is about the same mix we use. The finish matches very good.

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