Why are longbranch enfields darker?

[Phantomeyes]

Hi I am restoring a No.4 MkI

longbranch stock. I want to retain its original color as much as possible, I have one handguard that does not match. Id like the stain on all the parts to look as canadian as possible I like the darkness. I dont know if its the oil, or the wood that causes this nice look.

any tips?

 

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

Most Long Branch rifles used walnut, soaked in Linseed oil. I am pretty sure the Brits also used Walnut and linseed oil, but the species of walnut might be different. Tradeex (link Above) has Long Branch Hand guards and but stocks, it might be easier then playing with a stain to buy an already matching one.

 

[granite]

delete

del

 

[cantom]

Hi I am restoring a No.4 MkI

longbranch stock. I want to retain its original color as much as possible, I have one handguard that does not match. Id like the stain on all the parts to look as canadian as possible I like the darkness. I dont know if its the oil, or the wood that causes this nice look.

any tips?

I've seen every kind and colour of wood on Long Branch rifles. Dark walnut is probably the most common but far from all of them used it.

You just need to match your other pieces.

 

[Vimy Ridge]

I believe they sometimes stained the lighter types of wood they used. Might have been at the armourer level and not the factory.

 

[tiriaq]

LB rifles in service were often multicoloured. Not unusual to see a mix of birch and walnut.
No harm in colour coordinating a rifle when rebuilding it, but it didn't matter for service use.

 

[BUSHMAN79]

Most common to see contrasting handguards. Often dark guards on a light stock, or light guards on a dark stock.

 

[tjhaile]

No. 4s are commonly encountered with birch, beech, or walnut furniture. Which wood the rifle left the factory with most likely a function of when and where it was made.

Savage No. 4s sometimes have birch wood with a distinctive reddish stain. The picture below is of my Savage with the original short butt below. I fitted a long butt for shooting it, which I think is beech, and stained it to make a closer match to the forend and handguards.

 

[x westie]

No. 4s are commonly encountered with birch, beech, or walnut furniture. Which wood the rifle left the factory with most likely a function of when and where it was made.

Savage No. 4s sometimes have birch wood with a distinctive reddish stain. The picture below is of my Savage with the original short butt below. I fitted a long butt for shooting it, which I think is beech, and stained it to make a closer match to the forend and handguards.

Your No.4 looks great..!