Type A Oberndorf Mauser in 9.3x62. What kind of stain gives a stock a color like this?

Mahogany??

Alkanet root, it's a dye.

I think there are times that the alkanet root makes the project turn out nice and other times it doesn`t.I feel that it is used successfully in the above blank were the blank is originally rich in color and the red dye is filling in the faint light spots.I don`t think it works well when it is used on a colorless or very light blank.It make the rifle look like an orange,IMO.

My guess is alkanet root and lots of aging. The darkness because linsead oil darkens as it ages.

Actual staining in stockwork is the devil.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
I think there are times that the alkanet root makes the project turn out nice and other times it doesn`t.I feel that it is used successfully in the above blank were the blank is originally rich in color and the red dye is filling in the faint light spots.I don`t think it works well when it is used on a colorless or very light blank.It make the rifle look like an orange,IMO.

So you're saying that this was probably a premium piece of wood even before it was stained?

I want my next custom rifle to have wood that is very close to this. It is very appealing to the eye!

No,it doesn`t look premium it is just dark to start off with.

Looks like decades of oxidized linseed oil, perhaps with a bit of alkanet staining.

Here is a pic of a stock that I believe has the look you are after.I would contact this fellow if I wanted a similar stock.Here is someone that has proof that he can do it.I`ve seen many custom rifles from all kinds of builders that cannot accomplish this or for whatever reason have not turned out such a stock. [URL= ]stock[/URL]

The main determining factor on the stock color comes down to the wood. If you want a dark and red stock start with a dark stock with reds in it. Its best to never rely on stains or tints to give me what you want.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Little:
The main determining factor on the stock color comes down to the wood. If you want a dark and red stock start with a dark stock with reds in it. I never rely on stains or tints to give me what I want.

I used to think that there were blanks with different natural tints in them but I heard that once they are put into the process of making a stock they all have a similar neutral dull or ``white`` like color,except for the mineral streaks.IMO,they can be thought of as ``black and white``.The only thing that darkens them is the amount of mineral content in the wood.IMO,if they show a color then that is from the staining caused by the stuff in the oils used treat the stock.If I remember correctly the blank used to make the stock I pictured above was from the Luxus website.There was no red in the blank when I saw it there.

I just build them...but some stocks have prominant different colors in them(imo) that have nothing to do with the finish applied.