Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors how to clean stock and protect wood on 99

Got a deal on a 1953 EG in .300 Savage.Great wood and blueing with no cracks.Stock is dirty from many years of use.Not looking to do a total refinish job,but just to make it look decent.What is a good method to clean the stocks on these old guns and also what too put on the wood to protect it? Any input on this would be appreciated.

1) Remove butt plate screws.
2) Remove stock bolt.
3) Carefully remove the butt stock. Do the forearm while your at it.
4) Clean with mineral spirits on your old tee shirt.
5) Allow to dry.
6) Thin application of boiled linseed oil.
7) Allow to dry several days and reapply if needed.

That method is as good as any. If that doesn't cut it, perhaps then go to bronze wool or one of those soft plastic pot scrubber thingies. Key words there are "allow to dry". Follow up everything with a coat of good wax- therein lies the true protection against water fenestration, such as it is.

Be aware that some stuff that gets on stocks isn't going to come off without taking off the original finish also. So... proceed carefully.

Yes, but it's a 50's EG which I assumed means an oil finished stock. My bad is if it has been re-finished with something else along the way. Should've asked, and if it was re-finished all bets are off without seeing it.

Wasn't suggesting that your advice wasn't good - it was. I was just trying to say that some "dirt" may not come off, such as if it's gun oil that's soaked in.

Good point-after doing some "scubbing" there are some areas left that indicate remains of varnish....So it must of had a refinish job at some point,if it was supposed to be an oil finish from that era.So that brings up another question about these 99's-did some years come from the factory with varnish finishes and others just oil finishes?

Someone with more knowledge of 50's era 99's will have to speak to that. I'm under the impression that oil finishes were standard back then. I could be wrong.

If you look at Murray's, most of the early 99's were varnished. It varies by model, but varnish was phased out in the mid - late 1930's. All models are oil finished after WW2 through 1960. (Not 100% sure about F's as Murray's doesn't mention type of finish.) All EG's since production started in 1935 were oil.