To restore stock or not?

[adanacdjm]

I've been contemplating stripping and restoring a number of my babies. This guns are all in shooting condition but some of the wood is starting to flake or the finish has worn off. I've reviewed a pile of threads on the subject. Does anyone have a link to a resource on restoring stocks that I can use. I'm also wondering if by restoring the wood will I be decreasing the value of the gun? Not planning to sand or remove any markings. My thoughts are that it will look nicer but have I changed the character of the fun?
Thanks in advance.
Dave

 

[louthepou]

Depends on many factors... First off, what rifle is it? Is it all original, never redone by someone else? Posting pictures here could also help get more advices.

Lou

 

[gaff]

as Lou said , will you be applying the original finish? how much damage are you talking about? youtube has lots of refinish jobs and tips. the less you do the better.

 

[sunray]

Restoring or refinishing? Different things.
Wood is wood. Refinishing a rifle stock is done with the same products and techniques used on fine furniture. Lots of books in your local public library.
Cleaning the stock will not affect the value. Altering it, in any way, can. However, like Lou says, a lot depends on what rifle you have.

 

[jbmauser]

What kind of milsurps are we talking about here? Even cleaning the stock on some will decrease value and collectibility greatly, others not so much.

In my opinion, altering an original stock in any way decreases the value and collectibility to some extent. I'd rather buy one with a poor original finish and dings and dents any day over one that someone has stripped down, steamed or sanded dents, and refinished.

 

[timandkimandshea]

MOST of the time, I prefer the "before" pics. It rarely looks original, very often a job that someone has taken painstaking care with looks, well, refinished. I have seen some that look really good, but enough that don't that I haven't tried. Just my opinion.
T

 

[gunsaholic]

Unless they were really bad, I would not refinish. These are military weapons after all and should display some use and character and I think the majority of people interested in these rifles prefer them as original. If the stocks were so bad that they were falling apart, that might be a different matter but it appears by your description that this is not the case.

 

[adanacdjm]

Pics of a 1908 Krag for refinishing

The Krag has sections where the finish is flaking off. Other parts have lots of scratches.

I will post up a better pic of the flaking when I get home.

 

[adanacdjm]

Here are sone better pictures of the area I'm concerned with:

The above pic is the major area of wear and here is the other:

The rest looks good except a few dings and dents

 

[sunray]

That one can be refinished without losing any value. Kind of looks like it was varnished long ago.
It's not of U.S. manufacture though. They were busy making 1903's in 1908. Might be a civilian sporter, like its stock. What's its chambering?

 

[adanacdjm]

I'm a little bite confused on the actual make. The serial number suggests it's a 1908 Norwegian M/1907 Artillery Carbine based on the SN 11702 but those were full stock carbines. I thought it might have been sporterized but then I found a picture (#3) which leads me to believe that due to the gun being made at the end of the 1908 production run the wood on my Norwegian Krag appears to be the stock for a Model 1897 Carbine for Norwegian Mountain Artillery and Royal Engineers. It does not appear to be cut down or shortened. Although, my rifle's serial number indicates it should be a full length stock M-1907 Carbine (of 1908 manufacture), both 1897 & 1907 carbine models have the same length barrel. Maybe references are incorrect and it was issued with the M-1897 carbine stock. At this point in time I'm just happy to own it. It kicks like a mule and the bolt is one of the smoothest ones I've ever had the pleasure to use, it glides when your working it and my thoughts were to bring the wood back to its former glory.

 

[adanacdjm]

It's chambered for 6.5x55mm

 

[adanacdjm]

Any opinions on what this model 1897 Krag dated 1908 would be worth? Not interested in selling but I'd like to get an indication of its value.
Thanks in advance,
Dave