Wood finish on mid-1950's Winchester 94

[Potashminer]

So, I am awaiting arrival of a mid- 1950's Winchester 94 - decent enough bluing (showing "honest" carry wear), steel checkered butt plate, hooded front sight, screw heads not "buggered". Pictures show varnish peeling / flaking off the rear half of the butt stock. Were these guns originally shiny varnish?? I am considering what, if anything, I might do about it. The "raw" wood exposed where the varnish flaked off needs something - I am curious as to whether this varnish was factory original, and to therefore re-do it, or whether it was a preceeding owners "touch-up"...

 

[Trimmer 905]

So, I am awaiting arrival of a mid- 1950's Winchester 94 - decent enough bluing (showing "honest" carry wear), steel checkered butt plate, hooded front sight, screw heads not "buggered". Pictures show varnish peeling / flaking off the rear half of the butt stock. Were these guns originally shiny varnish?? I am considering what, if anything, I might do about it. The "raw" wood exposed where the varnish flaked off needs something - I am curious as to whether this varnish was factory original, and to therefore re-do it, or whether it was a preceeding owners "touch-up"...

IIRC,I'm pretty sure Winchester 94's of that vintage had an oiled finish. Winchester didn't start using lacquer finishes until the late 60's. The surest way to find out is to shoot Winchester's tech branch an e-mail.

 

[Brutus]

I own a 1956 made Winchester M94 carbine. Quite possibly an oil finish, but certainly with some age looks more like a varnish type finish factory original. My father first purchased it in 1966 or thereabouts. I touched it up with Birchwood Casey. You cannot tell the difference IMO.

Edit: Tru Oil was the product. A satin stain.