Refinishing a 40X Stock (project completed)

Smith357 · #1 02-18-2009, 06:46 PM

This is my current project that I am working on for a friend who is known on this forum 45wheelgun. I'm to the point now where we need to start thinking about color. He would like a vintage color with a touch of red, but I don't have a recipe. I'm sure I could figure it out eventually but your guidance here would be much appreciated.

Here's what I have so far, I'm guessing it will be a few weeks before I'm satisfied with the sanding process and apply any color

It is a very early Remington 40x Serial # 4xx in .22lr that has a custom made 3 position stock in the Freeland style. The Rifle has been blessed by Mr. 40X Gene Davis. He did some trigger tuning and adjustment and OK'd the barrel. As you can see from the 50 yard 5 shot group using cheap ammo the rifle is a shooter, but then one would expect that from Remington's top of the line rifle. Let me assure you all that I am not changing any of the contours and am trying to keep it as true to what the original stock maker made. I'm just smoothing out the rough areas, and there are plenty of them, and removing the 50 years of black oil stains.

The original stock maker is unknown and nothing is known about when the stock was made, but this style was state of the art in the 50s.

You can see the very rough work around the hand grip area where the previous owner used a rasp to shape it to his hand. Pretty ugly!!

After removing the hardware I started stripping off the cruddy old finish. I am trying to leave the stock as close to original as possible while smoothing out all the rough spots.

At this point I have cut and fitted a butt pad and steamed out as many of the dings as possible, the one that are too deep or where the grain has been cut will stay. I soaked some of the problem areas in stripper to leach out as much of the old gun oil as possible from the walnut the area around the rear of the receiver was black from powder soaked gun oil.

I started hand sanding with 100 grit and and currently down to 220 grit. I'm almost ready to start hitting it with 320 grit paper. Then 400 grit and it should be ready for some stain and a hand rubbed oil finish, I figure 20-25 coats should do. It should be ready for the range by summer.

toroflow1 · #2 02-18-2009, 07:43 PM

I don't have a receipe for you, but I just want to commend you in that you are retaining the wood stock, and are NOT installing a tupperware black stock (aka BOAT PADDLE)! Fine rifles should have fine WALNUT on them!!

Smith357 · #3 02-20-2009, 02:54 AM

Thanks, the owner and I have always been old school when it come to our gun choices, I will take blue steel and walnut every time over stainless and plastic.

reddogge · #4 02-20-2009, 07:54 AM

Go to Brownells and order a bottle of Chestnut Ridge military stain and a bottle of R.Gale Lock walnut stain. They both are alcohol analine dyes. The Chestnut Ridge is reddish and I tone that down with the R.Gale Lock stain. Don't worry about hiding grain. You can dilute them as much as you want with alcohol and just keep putting on thin washes until you get what you like. Plenty of grain shows through and the dyes highlight the grain.

s&wchad · #5 02-20-2009, 11:03 AM

I’m thinking grape metal flake is out of the question????

Smith357 · #6 02-20-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddogge

Go to Brownells and order a bottle of Chestnut Ridge military stain and a bottle of R.Gale Lock walnut stain.

Great, thanks for the clue! I have used and still have a few alcohol based strains from guitar work I have done, but the guitar colors I have are far too vibrant for a gunstock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by s&wchad

I’m thinking grape metal flake is out of the question????

If it were to get the auto body paint I would go Candy apple red with a flame job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis40x

The top one is the color your after.

Yes the top color is what we are looking for. I have smoothed out a section of the barrel channel for color testing.

The weather here in Ohio has gotten cold again,and I don't want to risk the old wood cracking from extream temperature changes. I'm about ready to start sanding in the house.

I hate these delays.

Smith357 · #7 03-07-2009, 08:01 AM

The weather finally broke here in Ohio and I laid a bit of color on the stock. I started with a very diluted vivid red alcohol stain left over from some guitar work I did a few years ago and then laid on a touch of dark walnut. It should be ready for some tung oil later this afternoon.

reddogge · #8 03-07-2009, 09:52 AM

Looking good.

Gun-runner · #9 03-07-2009, 11:11 AM

You should be proud of yourself. It looks great!

H Richard · #10 03-07-2009, 11:29 AM

Are you sure the stock isn't a Freelands? With those barrel pressure points, it is typical of what they did back in the 50's & 60's.

Smith357 · #11 03-07-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H Richard

Are you sure the stock isn't a Freelands? With those barrel pressure points, it is typical of what they did back in the 50's & 60's.

No, I am not completely sure, I have been told by Gene Davis, and others that it is not a Freelands but made in the Freelands style. Not being an expert in the field I am taking the word of those who I believe to be experts as to it's origin.

Curt Dawson · #12 03-07-2009, 04:22 PM

Brings back memories of my high school days.We used iron sighted version to shoot the annual Watson trophy match at the IBM country club in Endicott,NY.Man they were heavy in offhand when we were still scrawny teens.

Homie · #13 03-08-2009, 09:01 AM

FWIW, I think you have a prone gun, not a position rifle. A position rifle would at least have a hook buttplate (or a completely adj. assy) and provision for attaching a palm rest. Also, most custom stocked position rifles did not have bedding devices installed as the furthest range was 50 meters. The cheekpiece only lends itself to one face position, which is impossible in a position rifle.

The stock bears some resemblance to a pattern Roy Dunlap sold, but the hardware isn't his.

Looks like a shooter, nice refinish!

Good shooting.

Smith357 · #14 03-08-2009, 06:30 PM

As of this post I have about 4 coats of oil on it. I spent an hour or so rubbing it while still soft and I'm done for the night. It should be hard enough to steel wool and start fresh again tomorrow and rub in two to 3 more coats. I'm guessing if the weather cooperates it should be done after week or two of this.

Sorry about the bad pics but it's late and the natural light is long gone.

45Wheelgun · #15 03-09-2009, 06:27 AM

Wow, that is looking good, I can't wait to get it back together.

45Wheelgun · #16 03-09-2009, 06:29 AM

Quote:

dennis40x:

The top one is the color your after.

You are correct, that is the perfect color. I think Smith357 did a great job at matching the color.

Is that a set of Lefty 40x's? Bet that was a tough set to find.

Smith357 · #17 04-04-2009, 07:44 PM

I finished 45wheelgun's 40X stock last week, and after a full 7 days to let the 30+ coats of finish harden, he took delivery this morning and assembled the rifle. We then took it to the range and shot a few hundred rounds. It now looks as good as it shoots.

45Wheelgun · #18 04-05-2009, 05:58 PM

And it still shoots! This is 5 shots at 50 yards:

handejector · #19 04-06-2009, 12:53 PM

My compliments to you both.
That is a beautiful job of finishing.
That is also a beautiful group.

Raider · #20 04-06-2009, 01:59 PM

Superb job of stock refinishing. Great group too.

Onomea · #21 04-06-2009, 02:38 PM

Beautiful job, Smith357!