To me, wood is a traditional material that calls for a traditional finish. That would be BLO or Tru Oil. I would also wax it after finishing it with oil. Canauba wax or Rennaisance Wax, both of which are just a temporary protectant. To me, this is the way stocks should look. Sealing them and polishing them to high gloss does not appeal to my senses. Obviously, these traditional finishes are not state-of-the-art for protection and carefree service. For that, I would take a synthetic stock.
I also think it's important to recognize that we're talking about a DIY job here. If I was buying a Purdey or H&H, I would be glad to let them decide how to finish it and I think I would be happy with their decision.
