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1853 rifle question - Was this rifle's stock originally dark walnut color or a lighter oak?

More than likely it is walnut. Most Military stocks were and it's hard to say what "tone" it is/was till ya git it clean. Most were a darker low grade walnut with a linseed oil finish. Not positive tho on a 150+ year old stock.
 
Jim West Pa said:
More than likely it is walnut. Most Military stocks were and it's hard to say what "tone" it is/was till ya git it clean. Most were a darker low grade walnut with a linseed oil finish. Not positive tho on a 150+ year old stock.
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Thanks.

I also figure it was originally darker walnut.

I see most cleaned P1853's are done with very light colored (stripped) stocks that more closely resemble white oak.

Personally I don't think that's historically correct. I've seen lots of old muskets and never yet saw one with a bleached stock.

I may use a little walnut jell stain on mine before sealing it with whatever they used. I need to make sure on that first.

This will be an old looking P1853 and no one will mistake it for a reproduction.

I've removed about 98% of the Yak fat coating and just left a trace of darkening here and there. The stock as a whole has a decent patina still but in the dry state too light.
 
If you haven't yet gone too far MB ,there is a product made by Formbey's that actually cleans the wood while breaking down the original finish and making it a usable solution again.It will actually leave the original finish behind while taking away years of dirt and grime. Before this process tho i would recommend getting as much of the oil out of the stock that you can by using whiting on it.Whiting will take away allmost all oils and leave the finish behind.
Suggestion, if you use whiting.With the age of your wood i would go slow with the whiting and use no heat on it.If you must use heat, try just the warmth of the sun.
 
I have it down now to where there are just spots here and there like most old muskets have.

The original stain is still mostly there but it's been weakened by the removale of hardened fat.

I was thinking about just giving it a rub down with tung oil.

There are some lighter areas on the gun so I'm not sure the tung oil will darken it all enough.
 
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