Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing refinishing an already re-finished stock (Pre-64 Win 88)

A family friend re-finished the stock on my dad's Win 88 back when they were younger and, let's just say, "less wise." It's a Pre-64 88 in .243 and the wood has some amazing character to it. Whatever he used, it ended up filling in a lot of the valleys of the checkering. Then he lacquered it it up something fierce and it's in there for good. Can I reverse these effects with anything that won't harm the wood itself? I'd like to strip it down to what it used to be, and then just use linseed oil or something like that to highlight the character in the wood.

Also, what are the correct front and rear sights for this gun? They were removed, and I'd like to get some correct ones to re-install.

As for sights check out Numrich https://www.gunpartscorp.com/search#query=winchester%2088%20sights
I used Minwax with tung oil to refinish a couple of stocks.After existing finish is removed and sanded,all you do is wipe it on one coat at a time using cheese cloth.The finish comes out really nice and smooth like a factory finish.

Thank you--after I posted this, I read a little further down about selective finish removal. I think I'm going that route first, and then exactly like you said, a few coats of oil; yours looks great! As far as sights go, I tried numrich. I think it's going to be an ebay hunt.

There is no need to put finish in the checkering... a coat of wax will do more and be 100% reversible.

My main hurdle is removing the existing finish from the checkering--I don't know WTH he used that gooped up in there so much.

Trying to decipher that is a lose:lose proposition. Do not put any ugly crap in there and just get on with life...

Sorry I can't help, but I DID read and comprehend your original post.

Good luck.

Thanks, guys. I think I'm going to try some of the Hormby's restorer to strip everything off of there, and possibly an exacto knife (painstakingly,) and then oil it up after everything dries.

Checkering tools are very cheap...

You should probably show it to someone good at going over the checking again.

Beautiful job.

Ditto jaguartx. If the finish is ok, rechecker by cutting the finish out of the original checkering. I've done it a bunch

I used paint stripper and an old toothbrush to get old finish out of the checkering....just go easy.

Source for "very cheap" checkering tools ?

For only one job, you can get a handle for about $7 and a single line cutter for about $6,plus shipping from Brownells. Midway probably carries the same thing. Probably find some needle files and bent needle files at Home Depot for less than $15.Maybe even at Harbor Freight if you only want to do one stock.

With good light and patience a fellow can do a lot without specific tools unless he is real klutz.
From looking at the photo, it looks like the checkering ha s already been worked on, with the over runs an uneven lines.

Like was said use a stripper to get the old finish off and a tooth brush to work it out of the checkering.


When you reapply finish, use a tooth brush in the checkering to keep it from pooling and building too thick in the checkering. After a coat or 2 I'd stop applying finish in the checkering and work on the rest of the stock.


Lots of ways to finish walnut and fill the grain.

He would probably need to take out a second mortgage...

The question is about checkering tools, WTF are you talking about second mortgage?

I think Sitka Deer is referring to having the stock professionally recut. Jaguar mentioned that on 2-27.

Ive used paint stripper a few times with varying success. With patience, I suceeded in removing Remington 's RKW finish.