I didnt want to hijack 7x57's thread about his very nice re-finish job on his CZ. So I thought I would post some pics ofsome of wood that I have on my CZ's. I have only re-finished 2 of the stocks so far with excellent results. But I still have the 7x57 and 458 WM to do.

But they do show that some really great wood can be found on factory CZ rifles. I am also aware that CZ has some wood that most 2x4's would put to shame for color and figure. But if you do some looking and are willing to give it a nice re-finish adn possible re-shaping you can come up with a sweet stock on your CZ.


My CZ 527 American .223 before re-finish.



CZ 527 American .223 after.



CZ 452 American 22lr during re-finish. Checkering is masked off to keep the finish from accumulating in the checkering.



CZ 452 American 22lr after.



CZ 550 American 7x57 still with factory finish, but you can see the potential hiding under the factory mud.



Stock for my CZ 550 Safari .458 WM. Even through the factory mud it still shows this incredible figure. It is going to be downright amazing with a proper re-finish job.



The other side of the .458.



The .458 WM and 7x57 will be getting re-shaped also. The 550 American 7x57 has enough wood on it to make 2 stocks it seems. It should turn out real sleak when it is trimmed down. The .458 will be getting some shaping done also.

Wooohhff...

I know my 527 has something under that goo too

Bill: Thank you for showing your rifles. It really amazes me what is under that finish CZ puts on its longarms. I really do think that CZ found a finish that is tougher than the company's steel-tough scope rings and just went with it. On my rifle, for example, I could see a tiny bit of figure under that finish, so I decided to see the whole show. I had previously done the same with a Ruger Mark II. I came away from that experience thinking that the individual can, in fact, do a much nicer finish job than the mass-production pros with a bit of care. Your rifles are proof of that. Very, very nice job Bill. Hope you like your 7x57mm. Mine thinks it is a target rifle sometimes with certain loads. And no, I don't feel you hijacked that post of mine at all, but rather, added to it. Thank You Sir! Tom Purdom

I notice winchester does the same thing, see some nice wood buried under a lot reddish chocolate stain, they may as well just paint them brown.

WOW!! That makes me want to go out and get a Safari USA 416 Fancy and refinish it! I really dig the fiddleback.

I was told years ago that if they are all close in color than no one has to pick through the guns and the plain ones are not left on the rack.

bill -

excellent work, and beautiful stocks! i've got a cz 550 american in 7x57, and i have always suspected that i've probably got some dang fine wood underneath all of the gorilla snot that is on mine, as well.

keep us up-to-date on your work; maybe give a step-by-step, if it isn't too much trouble.

M1- That .223 turned out SHARP!! What oil did you tune her up with?

Thank you for the compliments. I was inspired by some posts by other AR members after seeing how their CZ's turned out after a re-finish job. CZ hides some really nice wood with their factory finish.

I have to admit that I wouldnt have been able to have them turn out as good as they did without some help and guidance. CustomStox and ForrestB both offered a lot of advice and suggestions. Chic was very helpful in sharing his expertise and techniques with me so I would not screw them up.

For the 527 .223 and 452 22lr stocks I chemically stripped them. That was followed by minor reshaping of the stock to remove a lot of the "fat" area immediately behind the bottom of the pistol grip I also cleaned up the comb flutes to make them more defined. The wood was sanded to 400 grit always using a backer block with my sandpaper. Then the grain was raised with a wet rag twice and sanded off with 400 grit emory paper. I applied 2 coats of a red tinted Danish oil and let that fully cure. The 452 stock was then finished with a friends home brew oil finish that was a mix of several oils. The 527 was finished using Sea-Fin Teak Oil. With both oils I applied the finish by putting a drop on my finger and rubbing it in. Both stocks were wet sanded 4 times and took about 10 coats to get them where I wanted them.

I really like the Sea Fin oil. It was reccomended to me by ForrestB and he definately steered me in the right direction.

I think I will take pics of the various steps as I do the other stocks. It will be fun to document teh work in progress. I dont know when I will get to the other projects but I will defibately keep you updated.

Very nice I love those quality CZ's !!

Dang Bill, that's nice looking work. I've been considering just painting my CZ .223 for coyote hunting (that's all it does), but your success with them is changing my mind. Of course, if I got mine looking as good as yours, I'd be half-scared to beat it up in the desert.

Very nice work!

M1 Tanker. I am inspired! What chemical stripper did you use. I am new to this.
Peter.

Bill, well at least now I know where and whom to refinish my stocks
The 22LR and the 223 turned out Great, I much prefer a light colored stock.
Keep up with picture updates.

quote:

I have to admit that I wouldnt have been able to have them turn out as good as they did without some help and guidance. CustomStox and ForrestB both offered a lot of advice and suggestions. Chic was very helpful in sharing his expertise and techniques with me so I would not screw them up.

Hey Bill there is something on your nose! Oh yeah it is called brown nosing geesh have you know shame!

John

quote:

Originally posted by 323:
[Hey Bill there is something on your nose! Oh yeah it is called brown nosing geesh have you know shame!

John

It isnt my fault you have stock envy!!! You taking any leave over Christmas? You ought to drive on up and we can go do some shooting.

No leave. Can't do that when there is a certain asshole SGM trying to burn you for anything so I thought other wise, so staying close to the house. P.S no stock envy here.

John

Dont feel bad, my NCOIC has me on telephone standby all weekend too.

If 323's SGM was just keeping him on standby it wouldnt be too bad. But the SGM mentioned is a real piece of work to say the least and makes it real hard to do your job.

I know the feeling. you try working when youre pissed about whats gonna happen at work before you even get there in the morning. OOPS....

Right after I switched to the medical corps, and right before I left the unit where I had flown for the last fourteen years I got dumped on by having to do all the physicals for the group for three months. Two notorious pricks, one an E-8, and the other an 0-5 just happened to have their quadrennial physical due dates fall in that time frame. They both had unaddressed medical issues. I came in the Monday after drill when the base was deserted, put together the appropriate and correct referral packets and mailed them off to mother Air Force. They were both over twenty years so they were retired within 90 days. If either of them had ever in their careers done anything for the good of the unit, the country or any of their subordinates I would have moved heaven and hell to get them squared away medically while helping them to continue serving. It drives me crazy to think how many talented and loyal soldiers have left the service because of bad treatment by limp dicks like the SGM in question.

LD

The problem with this SGM he is the command retention SGM if you guys didn't know I'm career counselor it is my job to retain Soliders in the active componet. Since our BDE is in his back yard he is constantly threating to fire us cause we are not making aour 9% glide path the Army has set. We are like recruiters now I have to reenlist 8 Soldiers a month to maintain this glide path. The other BDE's are in other states or countries. There are times I wish I was close to my ETS cause I would get out cause of him. But if I ever make it to SGM I vow I will never be like him. I have had the honor of working with to of the best CSM recently and that is what keep sme going. Our BDE csm he is alright but not the best. My current CSM is a top notch guy. He tells me not worry he has my back. If we get relieved that is a bad NCOER and pretty much destorys our carerr with a relief for cause NCOER .

quote:

Originally posted by gixxer:
I know the feeling. you try working when youre pissed about whats gonna happen at work before you even get there in the morning. OOPS....

It's so bad I don't want to go into work now. Constanly thinking what next. The guy across the road from me said he will help me put together a warrant packet I think I'm going to do this. No more worries. Soory Bill for hijacking you thread.

Hey Bill I will send you the stock of my CZ so you can refinish it too. Since you have time on your hands.

John

quote:

The guy across the road from me said he will help me put together a warrant packet I think I'm going to do this. No more worries. Soory Bill for hijacking you thread.

Do it! Warrant is good.
lawndart

323,

I sent you a PM.

JD

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
M1 Tanker. I am inspired! What chemical stripper did you use. I am new to this.
Peter.

I am sorry for letting your question slip past me. My ignorance was pointed out to me tonight.

I used Zip Strip Industrial Strength finish remover. You should be able to find it in most paint sections of stores like Wal Mart and Home Depot. It did take me a few applications to get rid of 100% of the CZ finish but it did the job very well. It worked far better than most other products I have tried. And it will remove any factory finish I know of. Be sure and wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the stuff though as it will chemical burn you.

Hey M-1,

My 7 month old German Shorthair Pointer "Uschi" has been jumping up and landing on me right where the back surgery incision is. The old SF code of conduct does not allow for yelping, crying out or whining; so I have been doing a lot of "expressive grunting". Anyway, may I send her over to jump up on your injured leg/knee. Just to share the love.
Thanks,

LD

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Hey M-1,

My 7 month old German Shorthair Pointer "Uschi" has been jumping up and landing on me right where the back surgery incision is. The old SF code of conduct does not allow for yelping, crying out or whining; so I have been doing a lot of "expressive grunting". Anyway, may I send her over to jump up on your injured leg/knee. Just to share the love.
Thanks,

LD

Thats OK, you can keep here there. I have a 3 year old boy that manages to get a lot of those "expressive grunts" out of me each day. I just found ot today that they now have to go in and remove a buch of torn cartlidge. That will be happening either monday or friday. I find out for sure tomorrow. But thanks anyway thinking of me and wanting to pass the love around.

Damn Bill are your ever going to report to your new duty assignment. Might as well convert your house into a Ft. Let me know how it goes and if you need any help even though in the past I haven't been much help with these knuckle heads down here in Huachuca. The new E-8 counselor has a real good working relationship with the 111 MI COL and CSM so let me know.

John

REENLIST STAY ARMY!

John,
The procedure is going to be all orthoscopic and I will be home by noon the same day. The doc thinks I will doing a lot better almost immediately. It didnt bother me whiel on the crutches since it wasnt taking any use or weight. But as soon as I started it walking it became real painful and swole up like a football. I will be reporting to Ft Carson, CO now on the 10th of Jan. But that isnt a bad thing. Now you will have a place closer to Huachuca to come up and chase elk.