I was in the Owatonna Cableas yesterday; they had two new Sabatti small frames: one 45-70 and one 9.3. The latter had, what looked like at first, 100% burl Turkish walnut on it. And they were reduced to $2750. There was a tiny logo in the corner of the grip checkering "OPTO WOOD", which has got to be the painted on stain/finish like Chaparral tried a few years ago. It actually looked good. Reddish stain with black swirls and burls. I forgot my phone so did not take a picture. And the muzzles were not ground in the least on that one. I am just reporting what I saw.

I did a bit of research, trying to determine exactly what this "opto wood" was. I learned that it is simply a finish painted or stained on, as mentioned above; is not a veneering process. To some, it may look good, but to the trained eye, able to distinguish real grain from man-made wood grain, it is a letdown. Personally, I would not be happy with it. Only nature can create real wood grain; man-made substitutes are second rate. However, let me say it again, some people would find it attractive.

I think its a water tank film like camo applications and like Beretta's XTra Wood. The pattern is printed in black over clear on a gelatin film that dissolves in water and the surface tension holds it on the water's surface until the wood is dunked in slowly, wrapping the grain print around the item. Then it gets a clear coat over the ink to hold it. Kinda like the burl wood dash panels in your old Chevy Impala except they at least use a real piece of wood on the Sabatti...

I don't know how long the process has been around, but it isn't new. Beretta made some shotguns several years ago with the same type of finish. It may still be available.

I think the process is the same as is used to apply the camo finishes to turkey guns, etc. The pattern is printed on a sheet and then immersed in liquid (maybe water?) where it floats on the surface. The object to be coated is dipped under the surface and the film sticks as it is raised out. It's hung up to dry and I think then sprayed with a clear coat.

No appeal to me but they look OK from a distance or in poor light. A real downside is that if you ever need to refinish your stock, you're in big trouble! I think a little stripper would result in some very plain wood.

Back in the 1840's some of the muzzle loading rifle manufacturers used acid to make fake curly maple stocks. I guess Opto Wood is the high tech equivalent.

I was just up at Cabellas in Me, they have three Sabatti on display. One in 45-70 had the most amazing piece of wood I'd seen in a while.....I had the clerk remove the rifle from the cabinet so I could examine it. Up close I couldn't tell that it wasn't real AAAA wood. I failed to see the "opto" trademark. But darn if it didn't look very nice..........but, like fake boobies, it just ain't real!