damaged my 1895 stock!!

I began fitting a grind to fit recoil pad for my marlin 1895 and got it close with scribing the back of the pad and was going to tape off the stock and finish it but my buddy needed his belt sander back and said he would finish the pad for me as he has done a few of his own. Well the other night about 830pm he says come on over and we will finish the pad and he taped it all off with masking tape and was doing a really nice job until I hear the F bomb and I knew something went wrong. He went through the tape and put about an inch gash in the stock with the sander. He says its an oil rub on and he will get some to touch it up and used a lighter color oil rub he had but I'm afraid its too deep and will still be noticeable. The buttstock is a very, very nice piece of black walnut too, I'm just sick over it.

Any tips on fixing this?

I get that its a hunting rifle but ive always purchased synthetic stocked, cheap savage axis, Mossberg 500, h&r single shots, etc and this is by far the nicest piece with a wood stock ive ever owned so id like to keep it nice. He did tell me it would be wise to strip and finish it to match the forend and such but gun weeks Monday after thanksgiving so it will probably be a spring project. I was a little worried refinishing it was the only option.

BigBore44 said:

It’s not the end of the world. I carried my 1895 one day over my right shoulder and had my Super Blackhawk on my right hip. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my stock was banging against my hammer almost every step......for about 7 miles worth of hiking. It’s got pits all over it now. I just figure it’s a hunting rifle. And as Forrest Gump found out “Shtuff Happens”.

Depending on how deep it is, you may just chalk it up to destiny. I’m sure it will get more blemishes. And everyone of them will have a story behind it.

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its pretty deep. deep enough you can feel the indent.

Riomouse911 said:

1895 recoil pads must me made of marble! I know mine does nothing to mitigate recoil when I load the guide gun up with a stout load.

Sorry to hear about the stock scuffing, hopefully it'll mix right in once you get it apart, sand it down, and oil it again.

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try a limb saver grind to fit. I shot about 30 hornady lever evolutions with a limb saver slip on from Walmart and didn't bother me one bit.

jmr40 said:

Most aftermarket recoil pads are thicker than factory and increase LOP. It might be better to trim a bit off the stock anyway before putting another recoil pad on it.

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ive got long lanky arms. Im 6ft6.

tallpaul said:

You need a few more years under your belt... nice stuff is great but as you use and modify stuff things happen... the price point of guns you buy there will always be lil things to bug a guy if he is looking that closely. You drive yourself nuts over stuff it seems! Relax- take a breath- the deer here in ohio are not so snobby that that mark on the stock is going to keep them from you Refinish this winter when ya have time....

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i do drive myself nuts, especially with this because ive wanted a lever gun since i was 14yo when i first hunted with a 30-30 marlin. The way my mind works i will be sitting in the stand staring at it the whole day.

Scooter22 said:

Get some TrueOil and rub a little in with your finger then wipe off. I've blended scuffs and scratches this way for years. Many are unnoticeable. Its worth a try before a full refinish. It might look ok to you. Good luck.

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I believe that's what he used but it was a lighter color so he said hes getting a darker color to try.

LoonWulf said:

The one marlin ive worked on recently seemed to have some form of stain as well as oil rub on the stock.
I had to refinish the whole thing after repairing the crack.
The older ones didnt seem to have a stain on them....or they were just so old it had worn off lol.

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buttstock is a rub on oil but for end is stained with shellac. After season ill let him strip both and do a rub on.