Seems like it might be walnut, kinda hard to tell. Walnut can trend to that color in the same board. Never saw it in a buttstock before. Kinda pretty. Saw a lot of it in our sawmill back in the day.
Fiddlesticks
As long as there's Limb Bacon a man'll eat! (But mebbe not his wife...)
Posts: 4816 | Location: Buffalo River Country | Registered: 23 October 2004
I have a Marlin 36 that has two shades like what is shown in your photo. The left side of the buttstock is your typical walnut brown....and the right side is almost blonde. The colors and contrast are very similar to yours. Andy
Follow me I am the Infantry
Posts: 668 | Location: Everson, Washington | Registered: 27 June 2008
This is on a musket, Indian made, and it's teak. The gun needs some sanding and some more finish work so I might try to stain it darker if I can get it take the stain. If not - it'll be a bit unique.
To each their own of course...me personally, I wouldn't want to cover it up darker as the color in your photo gives the gun unique character...but that's just me
Flintlock Rifles & Smoothbores Hunt Like The Settlers
Posts: 1867 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 28 January 2006
If you look at the other side of the stock it has long straight lines in the wood.Now look at the other side see how it gets rounder to a point of the but of stock then gets lighter then dark again.Thats where a limb of the tree was ,its called bark wood I think. Dont think it will take stain ,but sure looks cool huh. Keep Your Powder Dry
My wife's TC Hawken rifle is dark brown on one side and light brown on the other side. She didn't care for it but it is the natural color of the wood, so be it. If it really bothers you, you might want to sand it down and stain the light part and then refinish. Personally, I wouldn't bother, its the natural color of the wood, so what?
It is where the sapwood and hardwood meet. If you are going to refinish anyway, try some reddish brown leather dye. Dilute it so that the toe doesn't end up darker than the rest and use an artist brush to apply enough coats until it matches.
Posts: 332 | Location: South Coast (MS) | Registered: 16 September 2006
I have a couple of the India muskets (Bess & Matchlock) which had variations in the stock colors. The variations were spread out over different areas and not as large as yours in any one spot. The attached picture is an example of the Bess which had the most.
I did a makeover on both to slim the stocks and clean up the furniture so I re-stained the stocks as well. I started with a walnut toned filler/stain followed by additional dark stain. Since I wanted a dark color on them this worked out well.
If you like the light/dark color variation there is certainly no reason the change it. Had I not felt the need to redo the muskets overall I may not have bothered to re-stain.
Medicine Soldier
Posts: 219 | Location: Black Hills of SD | Registered: 05 October 2006
Originally posted by Pete G: It is where the sapwood and hardwood meet. If you are going to refinish anyway, try some reddish brown leather dye. Dilute it so that the toe doesn't end up darker than the rest and use an artist brush to apply enough coats until it matches.
I agree with using leather dye vice stain made for wood. The teak (?) does not take wood stains well. The wood seems oily. A friend suggested soaking the stock with mineral spirits for a couple of days then using stains.
Posts: 6 | Location: Brunswick County, NC | Registered: 08 December 2005