New Model 70 wooden stock

[elktrout]

My new Model 70 sporter has a really nice stock and what appears to be some kind of oiled finish. I called Winchester and asked the tech if I should condition it every so often with an oil finisher (like Birchwood Casey Tru Oil), but he said not to do anything other than possibly put a light coat of furniture wax on it.

He said the finish is a proprietary finish. What say all of you? I am especially wondering if furniture polish (such as, Minwax) will seal the barrel channel and inletting on the stock.

 

[Fishbed77]

I agree with the Winchester rep. If the stock looks good, there's really no reason to put anything on it (and a lot of potential harm if you put the wrong thing on it). Wood is wood. No matter what finish it has on it, you need to protect it from the elements as much as possible.

By the way, is your Model 70 still one made in South Carolina, or are the ones showing up on the racks made in Portugal?

 

[elktrout]

Mine is Made in USA. The owner's booklet that comes with the rifle says that I can apply a thin coat of furniture polish. After posting this thread last night, I took the action out of the stock and found the inside very dry and (in some spots) appearing like there was never any finish of any kind applied.

So, my real concern is the barrel channel and inletting, at this point. Tru Oil? Polyurethane? I am not a Linseed Oil fan, although a local gunsmith says it will do the job of weather proofing the inside.

 

[jmr40]

Oil finished stocks haven't been used in decades. It is a modern polymer based finish. Essentially a clear plastic coating that will hold up much better than the old oil finishes. Nothing special needed. Furniture polish if you want.

 

[sage5907]

I am of the old school who believes that boiled linseed oil in small amounts is good for a finished stock both outside and inside. I don't have any rifles with the so called plastic finishes but I do have rifles finished with TruOil and Pre 64 Model 70 type finishes. After hunting season each year I dis-assemble each rifle and wipe the stock down with a few drops on boiled linseed oil in the palm of my hand. I also do the same to the barrel channel. I polish both the outside and inside with the palm of my hand and the tips of my fingers making sure that every surface amount of the oil is rubbed in or rubbed off. It doesn't take much and it works good if you use it sparingly.

 

[win71]

High carnuaba content wax

I used to use Trewax. For one reason, as a kid I was forced to use it on my mothers kitchen wood floor. At the time, 1959, it was one of the tougher paste waxes. Years later while working for a stock maker I found out that the higher the carnauba content in the mixture the tougher the mixture.

I use a paste wax now that is high in carnauba manufactured and sold by a company called "The Real Milk Paint Company" It's not too good over raw wood but great over any of the oils, tung, linseed, varnish, etc.

I also use it on the cast iron tables of my woodworking machinery.