Correct Yugo Wood Stock (type of wood and stain/oil) Finish?

[st1264]

Just wondering if anyone knows what type of wood and what finish was applied to these from the factory... as I'm thinking about redoing this stock in correct Yugo fashion. Anyone know? If not, I'll just do whatever I like to it.

Here's my M48 stock (still needs to sweat out some cosmo), who knows what's been done to it in the last 60yrs:

Here's a pic of a supposed unissued, consecutive serial crate of M48's:

 

[st1264]

No wood stock experts here?

 

[Hitzy]

I always thought it was Elm of some kind.... Just oil finished, linseed probably.

 

[st1264]

I always thought it was Elm of some kind.... Just oil finished, linseed probably.

This is my best guess as well... European Elm seems to have the exact same grain.

Nice rifle by the way.

Linseed vs Tung Oil? I have a can of Tung Oil, what would the difference in finish be?

 

[agentcq]

Depends on if you have true Tung oil or commercial Tung. Most commercial Tung has a small bit a laquer additive and will create a plastic like finish. It doesn't look that bad, but isn't correct for military rifles. Overall tung will create a blond finish. Either commercial or true Tung will leave a fairly water resistant finish and will make the application of any other type of finish difficult without sanding or will require a chemical remover.

Linseed is just an oil and will highlight natural accents in the wood. Sometime it will lightly darken or lighten the wood but once dry the nice luster finish will become duller than when you originally apply the oil. The nice thing about an oiled finish is you can always use another type of finish later down the line with little or no prep work.

Some people will even use a mix of linseed and tung oil - which can have good results. Howards Oil is also a nice product - especially if you use the 'neutral' finish.

 

[dannyd123]

Just use linseed. The raw stuff from arts supply stores. Unless you got it from a hobby place like lee valley your tung oil is the laquer kind. Linseed is easy to apply (just a rag or fingers) and wont mess up your gun.

 

[st1264]

Just use linseed. The raw stuff from arts supply stores. Unless you got it from a hobby place like lee valley your tung oil is the laquer kind. Linseed is easy to apply (just a rag or fingers) and wont mess up your gun.

What if I want to add stain? Haven't seen the color of the stock yet, haven't stripped it. Would rather keep it like the Yugo's did, but haven't ruled anything out yet...