I recently acquired a 1961 MCA. A previous owner installed a slip on rubber recoil pad. The area covered by the pad has darkened. I believe it is the finish only. It looks like the result of a reaction of the rubber and the finish. I'm afraid the stock will need refinishing, unless anyone has an idea of how to reduce the discoloration. I'm in Houston if anyone can suggest a smith that might undertake refinishing or stripping the old finish for me. In the alternative are there any suggestions as to a stripper. Other than this issue the stock is in great condition and bluing is near perfect.
Thanks in advance for any input.

Sorry to hear. Also sorry no name in Houston anymore.

I've had just the opposite. The area under the cover stayed lighter as the stock aged.

Hope it is just the finish. Good luck.

Get a quart of lacquer thinner and steel wool it That will remove all the finish. Then start over with stain and finish. IE, you are going to have to strip it all down and refinish. It is not hard to do.

Thanks.

Thanks for the tip. I didn't want to use an industrial strength stripper.

Formbys makes a refinishing kit that is basically what I said. I don't use real paint remover on stocks either. No need. Unless you are trying to remove the finish from a Remington or Browning; it is damn near impervious to anything.

Naptha and a terrycloth rag worked for me on a similar problem.

Right, I think Naphtha and Lacquer thinner is the same thing. Or close anyway.

quote:

I think Naphtha and Lacquer thinner

Naphtha is Mineral Spirts or for us old guys paint thinner.

Lacquer does have some high flash naphtha in it.

Solvents from five different families are used in lacquer thinners, including toluene, xylene and “high-flash” (meaning fast evaporating) naphtha from the petroleum-distillate family. The other four families are ketones, esters, glycol ethers and alcohols.

I feel Lacquer thinner is more aggressive

I believe you come up with the chemical makeup of the Houston ship channel from about 1960. At that time it would periodically ignite. Thankfully it's clearned up now.

Now that's a fact.

Naptha is also known as white gas or Coleman fuel.

I am old enough to remember white gas.

Still have some.