Ever buy a new "premium" rifle and be disappointed in the wood and/or metal finish?

[The Kurgan]

CZs and Brnos often have nice wood under varnish finishes because apparently they don't sort the blanks. I don't find it disapointing though, they claimed a varnish finish and delivered one. The un-utilized potential is there for guys like you, and its free.

Well, the shellac is off, and it now wears a nice "old world style" hand rubbed oil finish (4-5 coats of tung oil, and then finished in a few coats of lemon oil):

Thanks for the motivation. It turned out quite nice indeed, and it is certainly more worthy of its $2000 retail price tag!
BTW, she's now listed on EE for a bargain price, as I need the cash to fund another "premium" purchase.

 

[mikeystew]

Well, the shellac is off, and it now wears a nice "old world style" hand rubbed oil finish (4-5 coats of tung oil, and then finished in a few coats of lemon oil)

Thanks for the motivation. It turned out quite nicely, and it now looks more like a $2000+ rifle! (And, boy does she ever shoot!)

DUDE!!! Very very nice looking rifle! I agree that tung oil can do wonderous things on the most unsuspecting wood. I refinished an old BSA Martini that looked very ordinary but after refinish with lots of filler coats and several finishing coats, the most amazing tiger stripe quilted figure jumped out at me.
I hadn't even noticed it before that.