Refinishing guns stocks hurt value?

[oldguner]

I've got a bunch of milsurp rifles the metal is in pretty good shape but the wood is not so good, since I work in a cabinet shop finishing wood is what I do i feel like working on them., I dispise Bubba'd stuff, so it would only be finished to original spec, keeping the original dents and markings, would you do it, or how much does it hurt the value for the purest?

 

[Corps]

...

 

[Coyote Ugly]

I would leave them as is - Original.

When the Sandpaper comes out, value drops over 50%.

 

[oldguner]

I wouldn't sand the wood i want to leave all the marks in the wood

 

[gunsaholic]

With a gun that actually saw military action ,I would leave alone.

 

[tacfoley]

A wipe over with BLO is the most that's needed, IMO.

tac

 

[oldguner]

Idont have any pics at the moment but its a k 31 with the typical raw wood butstock

 

[Philthy1]

For me, it wouldnt be much of an issue with a k31. If I was to buy one, it would be more for sporting purposes, as opposed to a war used Mauser or Enfield.

 

[J_K_S]

Im a journeyman carpenter also. Refinishing stocks is a hobby of mine. Do what makes you happy, who cares what others think.
Remember, it's your face pressed against these rifles stock. Why not make them pretty.
Cheers
Jerad

Swiss K31






[/COLOR]
Lakefield 64B

[/COLOR]
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)]
[/COLOR]
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)][/COLOR]
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)]
[/COLOR]
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)][/COLOR]

 

[bigedp51]

A conservator at a museum cleans the stocks with a 50/50 mixture of raw linseed oil and turpentine using a clean piece of lint free cotton. A small section is cleaned at a time while using a heat lamp to help bring any dirt and impurities to the surface. After this cleaning the stock is wiped dry of any remaining linseed oil. The metal parts of the rifle are cleaned with olive oil and a soft tooth brush, after cleaning the metal parts are waxed with a neutral PH wax to keep air and moisture off the metal.

And at the other end of the extreme Buba put the stock in the dishwasher, then sands the crap out of the stock with a belt sander.

Bottom line, you have to decide if you are a collector who keeps his collection as is with just very light cleaning and oiling of the stocks like above. Or if you are a shooter who goes beyond the above methods and strips, sands, stains and reapplies raw linseed oil to the stock. (or something in between)