Advice on Removing Initials Engraved on Stock

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CZ-Guy

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Hi All,

I purchased a Springfield (Savage) Model 52-A .22 rifle with the intent of refinishing it. It had very obvious initials carved into the stock. I've gone ahead and removed the first few layers of varnish/stain so that I could get a better picture of what I'm dealing with. I have not yet started to sand the stock down to bare wood.

What I'm considering are three options, but I wanted to get some recommendations for what might or might not work best.

1. Sand the stock down to below where the initials are at. As you can see from the pictures below, the side with full "EFR" initials is the deepest, with a large gouge out of the "R". This could potentially make the stock very noticeably skinny in that area and lead to issues with the buttplate fitting just right.

2. Fill the carvings with wood filler and sand smooth. Then stain a very dark stain and hope it isn't noticeable.

3. Leave the initials as part of the history of the rifle. That wasn't my intent when I bought it - because they certainly aren't my initials. But I suppose I could actually fill them with some sort of clear lacquer or multiple coats of oil to smooth out the stock itself while still showing the initials very clearly.

Other suggestions?

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That's going to take a lot of sanding to remove those letters. Since the rifle isn't worth much I would just leave them and clean it up. If you can find a stock for $25 that fits you might want to do that.
 
I was sort of thinking the same thing. I paid $42 for the rifle as a project gun. So I don't mind putting a little effort into it. I did check Numrich's and a few other places for a stock and didn't find one. But half the fun for me is figuring a solution to the problem vs replacement.

I'm actually considering leaving the initials as-is and sanding the rest of the stock down as normal. Then using something like Minwax Antique Oil Finish without ANY stain on the stock. Go for blond and make the carvings really POP. But, if there was a way to actually conceal the initials, that would be the preferred route.
 
Hi, CZ-Guy,

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the obvious solution - change your name to Edward Francis Riley. ;)

Seriously, I don't see a good way to approach that job other than to cut (not sand) deep enough to remove the letters, fill the gaps with wood filler and paint the stock. Any stain will allow the repair to show through, and those areas are too big to cut them out and glue in patches. The letters are so big that I wonder if they might have been put in by some overzealous LEO to mark evidence. I don't see a gun owner doing that.

Jim
 
If you sand it evenly, and shape the butt plate to match, I don't think you will ever notice the difference in the two sides of the stock nor will anyone else.
 
The first thing I would try is to Sweat out at the Initials.
The sweating will not Raise the wood in the initials, because they are carved in rather than stamped in.
But heat and moisture can raise or swell the wood under the carvings and then you will have more to work with when you try to sand them out.
It is sort of like you are trying to raise a Bump on your stock.
Then when you sand off the top of the bump, you are removing the wood containing the carvings.
But do the heat and moisture Before you start sanding.
Then you know what you are working with.
I use a wet towel and a clothes iron.
 
Another alternative is to create an artistic design uitilizing the lines of the initials and then carve the design over them. Then fill the disign with both light and dark fillers in alternation, then stain.

Done right it could be an interesting piece of work. Or it could just be a big flippin mess. But then you will have an even better reason to replace the stock.
 
LAGS suggestion might the the lesser of two, three evils ! The "ironing" effect will work, you'll just need to be vigilant about how much this process will entail. My meaning : Don't use a belt sander to do the work, use an electric hand sander, just be careful as to the grit you use. When you reach a place where you're "almost" there, do the rest by hand sanding. I know your fix here, I have a Rem. #33 i had to finish the stock on also, but some booger eater didn't carve his initials into it !
 
Aw man! Why would anybody do that? Personally, I'd be searching for another stock. I wouldn't even mess with that one. It's not like that's a rare type of milsurp rifle stock worth some big $$$.
 
Or, the only way not involving a replacement stock.
Click to expand...

Well, there's that. ;) But a butt cuff would have to be pretty long to cover the 3 initials.

Since it is a .22 there won't be a lot of recoil stress on the stock. He could just cut off the offending portion and use dowels or biscuits to glue a new piece of wood to the shortened stock which could then be shaped and finished. A good woodworker might even get fancy with the join line.
 
Hmmmm...

Given the history, I'd personally be inclined to simply refinish the stock and leave it as-is. Attempting to repair this by sanding something that deep out simply isn't worth the effort to me. Maybe a token effort at filling and staining.

HOWEVER, I would also consider making a new stock. I'd much rather put all my valuable time and effort into replacing the stock entirely with one I made myself than to try to correct somebody else's mangling.

That said, I do like post #7's option of considering a customization of the stock that eliminates the carvings in favor of a new custom design of your own. That, too, appeals to me. I'd also consider some kind of inlay instead of fancy carving. Perhaps a custom epoxy inlay, similar to epoxy table tops.

In fact, the epoxy idea is sparking ideas for me right now...

:)
 
Thanks everyone for the great advice. I got a chuckle out of 788Ham's post. It really does look like some kid with the initials "EFR" that got done with the first side, then flipped the rifle and started on the other. But only got through the "EF" before he was caught by his dad. LOL.

I think I will leave the initials. A couple of reasons. First, they are a part of the history of the rifle now, even if they are ugly and sloppily done. Second, they will make for some great speculation and conversation for decades to come. Third, if I ever change my mind, I still have the option of sanding the stock down and trying to remove them. But once I sand it down, I can't go back.

I have a feeling the wood underneath will look awesome in blonde. I wouldn't mind sanding it down and leaving the carvings completely untouched. Then refinish without any stain using only multiple coats of Minwax Antique Oil Finish (the dfariswheel method). Below is a Romanian M69 trainer 22 rifle that I did with the same method.

My concern is that I want to go ahead and "raise" the stock over the carvings to be even with the rest of the butt - but I want it clear. So, any suggestions on a clear filler that will even out the butt over the initials, but still allow the Minwax oil to adhere?

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Do what Bailey Boat says but use a wood with a matching color and grain. Inlet then shape to the stock.
 
Bubba Stock

You might try something like a patch box on a black powder rifle. If you can find one large enough to cover the initials, inlet it into the stock. Drill out a pocket below the cover and store a small survival kit. (fire starter, compass, fish hook & line)

Dixie Gun Works keeps patch boxes in stock.
 
you could put a patchbox in it and a cover plate like on old flintlocks .
use it for cartridges or fire starter survival fishing kit.
with a router you could cut a slider in pretty easy.
epoxy makes a good filler material, and you can color it.
oil based finishes over it no problems
 
As a former (retired) furniture maker:
Use a methylene chloride-based wood stripper, such as, or similar to, Zip Strip on the incised initials. You only need to apply it to the carved lines. Wait about 1/2 hour. Then, use a stainless brush to remove the stripper/coloring from the initials. Maybe do this twice. Then, when the stripper has dried and you have made the stripper disappear (elbow grease), use a household electric fabric iron, set on "wool", and a few layers of cloth saturated with water, applied over the initials area and steam the bejeesus out of the wood. And then do it again. And maybe again. Then when everything is bone dry (the next day) sand the area until you have gone below the area and its initials.
It works, if one has the determination.
 
I'd vote 'splint it' myself, if you were going to repair it. Or a buttstock to hide it and keep it 'original'.


Larry
 
I have repaired chips, gouges and cracks in a few stocks by stripping the old finish of like you have done. Then sand the stock over a large piece of plastic, saving the sanding dust from the stock. I try to sand evenly on all sides. I then take the dust and the polyurethane finish I would be using to make a paste. Simply fill the areas, sand again and refinish with the polyurethane. It is not a 100% fix but for me it was close. It might work for you.
 
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