Fixing wooden stock

[TrevorMack]

So I have an old Marlin 1893 I am trying to refinish back to as original as I possibly can. Being such an old gun makes it hard to find some parts and especially find original parts for them. You can tell this gun was used, the marks and scratches on the stock, lever wore from handling. The main thing with the stock is there are a couple cracks and the main crack inside the stock where the buttstock and tang come together. If you apple pressure on the right side beside the tang you can see the left starting to separate and also along top and bottom of stock there are slight cracks. I was going to replace them but I really want to keep it how it is, is there anyway to seal these cracks, glue, epoxy, anything really to keep this stock. I can add pictures if needed for opinions if the stock is even worth trying to save or if I should replace it. It is a cool old rifle and would love to see it back in working order hopefully soon. Thanks, Trevor.

 

[petew]

open the crack and apply thin CA glue and clamp it tight. Next srill across the crack and wick in more CA to make sure the inside of the crack is bonded. Re drill when the CA is set and fit a hardwood dowel covered in epoxy. If it is a long crack use 2 dowels.{CA is superglue.} Some use a brass bolt and nut and cap the ends of the holes with a dowel plug.

 

[Potashminer]

Carefully drill small diameter holes from inside the stock inletting along length of cracks - allows you to wick in or actually press in thin epoxy by using butt of drill bit to force in the glue - best way that I have seen to ensure that the cracked faces are flooded with glue, without seriously upsetting the exterior. I have not had much luck with "superglues" - the types I tried set up much too fast, even before I was able to get the clamps in place to close the cracks, so that glue ended up actually holding the cracks open.