Help. I am trying to gently clean a stock from the 1920's, nice walnut, maybe hand rubbed oil finish, well executed 28 LPI checkering. For the last 30 years it hung on the wall, tobacco smoke, dust, grime, bacon grease, farts and whiskey fumes. The metal cleaned up easily, but I am apprehensive about cleaning the stock...exuberant cleaning has ruined more guns than neglect. I did a small patch with Woolite and water, not very effective at all.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
I have used Naptha which is basically zippo or ronson lighter fluid to clean up gunk from old stocks. Use a rag for the stock and a medium toothbrush for the checkering
Solvents or chemical cleaners may be a little risky on an old finish.
Might try rottenstone and a small amount of stock rubbing oil on a felt pad or cotton gauze. Gently wipe with the grain, not circular motion. Buff with a soft cloth. Wax after a month or so.
I like the bacon grease and whiskey finishes but if you really must I have had good luck with simple Birchwood Casey’s Stock Sheen on old stocks. Not terribly aggressive but enough so that most stocks cleanup pretty good.
The first thing I like to try with the older Remington finish before the bowling ball (RKW) finish I like to just rub the stock down with boiled linseed oil on my hands. Then buff it off with an old t-shirt or towel. Sometimes that’ll bring the finish back to life. Don’t forget the possibility of spontaneous combustion with oily rags.
Sometimes that’s as far as I get. If there’s a lot of built up grime I use denatured alcohol and a green Scotchbright pad. That’ll usually take off the old finish along with the dirt.
NRA Life,Endowment,Patron or Benefactor since '72.
Help. I am trying to gently clean a stock from the 1920's, nice walnut, maybe hand rubbed oil finish, well executed 28 LPI checkering. For the last 30 years it hung on the wall, tobacco smoke, dust, grime, bacon grease, farts and whiskey fumes. The metal cleaned up easily, but I am apprehensive about cleaning the stock...exuberant cleaning has ruined more guns than neglect. I did a small patch with Woolite and water, not very effective at all.
Try a wood floor cleaner like Bona or Murphy's. I had a M1 Garand stock that was positively black. I took wood floor cleaner and 4O steel wool and turned it into a museum piece in less than an hour.
Is the wood finished? if so, that changes things. I have a couple of old rifles. A 1880 Springfield TD carbine, a 1863 Sharps conversion carbine, and a 1942 M1 Garand. A mild soap does fine and then after drying I apply a bit of olive oil.
