New SA SG M1 Garand and BLO Adventures.......

[FMJMIKE]

I recently received my first Springfield Armory Service Grade m1 Garand from the CMP. I wasn't too happy with it due to all the dings and gouges in the stock. This is a WWII era Garand w/ serial number 2002087. I also wasn't too happy with the black Greek park......UGH !!!
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So decided to experiment a little. I have read about all the restorations and decided to try a little stock first aid. I removed the stock and steamed it by using a small towel dipped into a boiling pan of water and then applying it to the stock. After the towel cooled I would dip it again and repeat until the whole stock was treated. It took about 3 hours. I then lightly sanded the stock while still damp to removed the horrible cosmoline stains and to smooth it a little. I wasn't trying to make the stock look new. I wanted the stock to retain some character. I then proceeded to add Boiled Linseed Oil. Ohhhhh........What an adventure........Rub down...........dry.......rub down.......dry.........UGH!!!
.........Well to make a long story short here are the photos..................

 

[SaxonPig]

Sounds somewhat similar to my experience with my CMP Garand. I bought the post-war HRA specifically because I heard they were in better shape than the WW II vets and I didn't want history as much as a clean, decent looking rifle to shoot. I was hoping to get an acceptable looking shooter because I did not want to spend hours and hours trying to rehabilitate the stock.

So, of course, what I got was the worst looking piece of crap I have ever personally seen. Not one square inch of the stock was free of serious dings and gouges and the whole thing was stained with grease.

The metal looked good. Too good to be compatible with the wood and I wonder if the original stock was cracked or broken and this piece of junk was scrounged up as a replacement?

I should have just bought a replacement stock. Wish I had. Instead I spent two days steaming, cleaning, sanding and refinishing. It now looks much better than it did, but still worse than what I hoping to have. I have decided to live with it, and the rifle functions perfectly. I enjoy shooting it. But I remain somewhat disappointed in the appearance of the wood.

Maybe I'll drop a hint for the wife as to what I want for Christmas.