Removing stain in stock without diascolaring

[Neilm]

I recently acquired Savage 99 that I have been looking for. It is a model 99A in 250 Savage with a 20" tube. Stock has no cracks or gouges but it does have a dark discolouration just above the steel butplate.
this dark is up to 1/4" wide and was probably caused by the rifle standing on the concrete floor in a basement.It may be some form of mold or just a stain. I would like to try to remove this stain but do not want damage the finish on there right now which is an oil finish.
Would alcohol or some other proctor applied from buttstock end work.
Thanks
Neil

 

[can14]

Put it near you furnace where it will get warm and see if it bleeds oil

 

[saskbooknut]

The stain is likely black iron oxide from the steel butt plate.

 

[M1-Garand]

Bleach will

 

[guntech]

If it is a stain I believe it will be hard to remove... even with a full refinish.

 

[M1-Garand]

If its dark,it may be from water,had some dark spots on the mahogany deck of my sailboat,came completely out with bleach.,needed refinishing afterwards of course.

 

[Neilm]

The biggest problem as I see it is that bleach will bleach out the surrounding wood.

 

[kamlooky]

Consider it a beeyewty mark.
Getting dark stains out can sometimes be a time waster.

Then agin, never type never.

 

[marshall]

I use to work on a lot of FN FAL's when they where cheap, Acetone will pull oil out to a certain extent, rust stains, never had much luck, bleach, what ever you do , you will have to refinish.
So don't mess with it., Not worth the hassle.

 

[Neilm]

Thanks that what I figured.
Neil

 

[mrgoat]

Many years ago (1971) we had a potted plant that leaked water on the hardwood floor while we were away for a couple weeks. The landlord was not amused. Borax was recommended and it worked, it took the black mark off, out of the wood floor. From what I remember I had to use it judiciously. Put a wee bit of varnish over it, the landlord was happy and we moved on with our security deposit in hand.

Now to your stock stain issue. if the stain is not unreasonably ugly and if your not into refinishing the whole stock I would just consider it an beauty mark, war wound, and live with it. If your adventurous and wish to tackle a total stock refinish then you could play with a few suggested methods to remove or lessen the stain and then refinish the whole stock, butt and fore end so it matches when done. Refinishing a stock is not rocket science, it just takes a little prior research for basic knowledge, common sense, patience, and time.

Only you can decide what to do.