This crazy idea started when my hunting partner and I were talking about techniques that might be employed to improve the functionality and looks of guns that had suffered catastrophic stock damage or disfiguring events. I had(have) a Spanish boxlock that I very much enjoy hunting with. I broke the stock in half lengthwise through the wrist and had to park it in the gun room for several years. I eventually got my act together and built a new stock for it and am back to enjoying the gun. However, this would have been expensive to contract out and required a good deal of perseverance to complete.
I have used the old, broken stock time and time again to practice different finishing ideas and techniques. This is what led us to have a discussion on fixing damaged stocks and having them look presentable. He told me about a guy he had heard of who bills himself as a "stock repair and painter". I must admit, I was a bit incredulous. The next day, my friend sent me a text with a URL for the guy's web site (regretfully I've lost track of that link, but I'll post it if I find it). His work was, shall we say, interesting. He tries to paint figure-like markings on the wood, both to hide repairs and to enhance the overall appearance. To some extent, he succeeds. However, all of his work that I saw on the web site (and after it was updated later with more photos) had a kind of contrived look. They were good enough, though, that someone had him fix their Holland & Holland!
I got to thinking that, if a more naturally occurring pattern could be achieved, it would be a pretty cool technique! Now I know that I may offend a few purists with this - myself included. But, rest assured that neither I or anyone I know would consider, even for a moment, trying to pass this off as figured walnut. You couldn't even if you wanted to - it's not that good. But, it is attractive. And, it can be engineered to cover many sins.
By now, if I haven't already exceeded your attention span, you're thinking "Alright, show them to us, already!" But allow me to give each example some context:
First attempt ever:
I bought this old Husqvarna hammer gun many years ago from Tradex. It's a 16 ga, and I've hunted with it many times. It's well made and has stood the test of time with little but exterior wear. But, the real delight from this gun comes from it's well rounded action. As I inevitably age, the wisdom of lightweight, well rounded actions becomes apparent. Yet, one must not sacrifice fit and balance and longevity. This amazing shotgun checks a lot of boxes for a $350 gun!!
It doesn't have a broken stock, but it certainly has a plain one. The checkering is so worn that I chose not to re-cut it for fear that the wrist would become perilously and uncomfortably thin. The splinter fore end couldn't spare even a lick from sandpaper without receding below the metal, so best not to touch it except to apply finishes. I tried doing fake case colours on the lock plates using cold bluing. It turned out not bad, but I didn't like it enough, so I tried some more, and it turned out even worse. However, it should look alright once it starts to fade a bit. I bought an ultrasonic cleaner at about this time, so the receiver was thoroughly cleaned and lightly lubricated before reassembly. The butt plate is the most worn I've ever seen without being broken or badly chipped. I'm still debating with myself whether to grind it smooth, or replace it with a 1/2" decelerator pad.
Husqvarna (before) - https://img.gg/i9gEQnx
Husqvarna (after) - https://img.gg/QSS9Lfj
Second victim:
This 1897 came to me already stripped of 90% of it's bluing and with a huge chip out of the stock just behind the receiver. I took it apart and finished stripping the bluing, as well as adding a new repro butt stock, and refinishing the stocks. It also required a new extractor to get it back to proper function. The "before" photos in this case are after the restocking and refinishing and before the Walnutz treatment. I hunted with it in this condition for several years, now. (It amazes the hell out of me that it doesn't rust.)
This gun also didn't have a broken stock. But it, too, has supremely plain walnut. I spit polished the receiver with my ultrasonic cleaner and gave it a light lube (OMG!! the action is smooth now!), gave the stocks my Walnutz treatment and reassembled her. I'm very pleased with the results on both guns. I like this look and I find it much more attractive than plain walnut. The treatment involves a Tru-oil hand-rubbed finish, so minor repairs will be a snap.
So there you go folks - let the flames begin!!!
Winchester 1897 (before) - https://img.gg/9xJD9zj
Winchester 1897 (after) - https://img.gg/Fndc9sN
I have used the old, broken stock time and time again to practice different finishing ideas and techniques. This is what led us to have a discussion on fixing damaged stocks and having them look presentable. He told me about a guy he had heard of who bills himself as a "stock repair and painter". I must admit, I was a bit incredulous. The next day, my friend sent me a text with a URL for the guy's web site (regretfully I've lost track of that link, but I'll post it if I find it). His work was, shall we say, interesting. He tries to paint figure-like markings on the wood, both to hide repairs and to enhance the overall appearance. To some extent, he succeeds. However, all of his work that I saw on the web site (and after it was updated later with more photos) had a kind of contrived look. They were good enough, though, that someone had him fix their Holland & Holland!
I got to thinking that, if a more naturally occurring pattern could be achieved, it would be a pretty cool technique! Now I know that I may offend a few purists with this - myself included. But, rest assured that neither I or anyone I know would consider, even for a moment, trying to pass this off as figured walnut. You couldn't even if you wanted to - it's not that good. But, it is attractive. And, it can be engineered to cover many sins.
By now, if I haven't already exceeded your attention span, you're thinking "Alright, show them to us, already!" But allow me to give each example some context:
First attempt ever:
I bought this old Husqvarna hammer gun many years ago from Tradex. It's a 16 ga, and I've hunted with it many times. It's well made and has stood the test of time with little but exterior wear. But, the real delight from this gun comes from it's well rounded action. As I inevitably age, the wisdom of lightweight, well rounded actions becomes apparent. Yet, one must not sacrifice fit and balance and longevity. This amazing shotgun checks a lot of boxes for a $350 gun!!
It doesn't have a broken stock, but it certainly has a plain one. The checkering is so worn that I chose not to re-cut it for fear that the wrist would become perilously and uncomfortably thin. The splinter fore end couldn't spare even a lick from sandpaper without receding below the metal, so best not to touch it except to apply finishes. I tried doing fake case colours on the lock plates using cold bluing. It turned out not bad, but I didn't like it enough, so I tried some more, and it turned out even worse. However, it should look alright once it starts to fade a bit. I bought an ultrasonic cleaner at about this time, so the receiver was thoroughly cleaned and lightly lubricated before reassembly. The butt plate is the most worn I've ever seen without being broken or badly chipped. I'm still debating with myself whether to grind it smooth, or replace it with a 1/2" decelerator pad.
Husqvarna (before) - https://img.gg/i9gEQnx
Husqvarna (after) - https://img.gg/QSS9Lfj
Second victim:
This 1897 came to me already stripped of 90% of it's bluing and with a huge chip out of the stock just behind the receiver. I took it apart and finished stripping the bluing, as well as adding a new repro butt stock, and refinishing the stocks. It also required a new extractor to get it back to proper function. The "before" photos in this case are after the restocking and refinishing and before the Walnutz treatment. I hunted with it in this condition for several years, now. (It amazes the hell out of me that it doesn't rust.)
This gun also didn't have a broken stock. But it, too, has supremely plain walnut. I spit polished the receiver with my ultrasonic cleaner and gave it a light lube (OMG!! the action is smooth now!), gave the stocks my Walnutz treatment and reassembled her. I'm very pleased with the results on both guns. I like this look and I find it much more attractive than plain walnut. The treatment involves a Tru-oil hand-rubbed finish, so minor repairs will be a snap.
So there you go folks - let the flames begin!!!
Winchester 1897 (before) - https://img.gg/9xJD9zj
Winchester 1897 (after) - https://img.gg/Fndc9sN
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