Custom Shop Stock finishes

[casonet]

Does anyone know if there were options available in the custom shop as to the type of finish applied to custom gun stocks? Both of my early custom shop Grand Americans came with a "higher gloss" finish on the stocks. Some refer to this type of finish as a "Browning style" finsih. I have seen photos of later guns with more of a satin finish and even some with what appears to be an oil finish. I know that you could literally get anything that you wanted, but if you didn't specify, what would you get?? Lastly, does anyone know the formula for the standard Winchester finish during the pre-war and early post war period? I see this stuff available on ebay, but who knows wheather it is really the correct stuff.

[P.Muerrle]

The Custom shop offered oil or laquer finishes for M21s. The oil used was Watco Danish oil for the hand rubbed oil finishes. For a semi gloss or satin finish oil was applied and then the wood was wheel polished. For laquer finishes the laquer was sprayed on for a high gloss finish. As far as the early years there were several formulas used incorporating laquers, stains and various other oils and stains, too numerous to mention. If a customer didn't specify a finish usually oil was used as the wood men, such as John Durkin, mostly couldn't stand laquer finish. They all pretty much agreed that the hand rubbed oil finish brought out the real beauty of the wood.

[casonet]

Thank you very much for that information. My guns must have the lacquer finish as both are glossy. I agree that an oil finish brings out the beauty of the wood unlike any other and it is by far my preference.