Sorry if this is a silly question. But can a Laminate stock, that is blonde with dark streaks, be stained to a more pleasant color? Will they take an alcohol based stain. I would like to darken the blonde colored wood. Thanks.

A year or 2 ago I got one of the Boyd's varmint style stocks(with the wide ventilated forend) in unfinished condition and it was stainable. Don't remember what kind of stain I used, but it was one of my regular stains. It did not stain as easily as regular Walnut but it did stain and looked a lot better.

Steve E........

An alcohol-based dye stain will stain an unfinished laminate, but it won't penetrate as deeply as on solid wood because the wood's full of glue.

BTW, my favorite dye stains for wood are Fiebing's leather dyes. I got onto those years ago from noting Turner Kirkland's comment in the Dixie catalog that Dixie Gunstock Stain was something "specially made for Dixie" by Fiebing. I think Fiebing's Mahogany is the Dixie stain.
http://tandyleather.com/products.asp?DEPT=173&Page=2

Thanks for this post...I to wondered about this since I am cosidering a Brockman's stock for my CZ550. I just don't like the "zebra" pattern when it is finished.
As for the leather dyes, I used some black leather dye on a piece of plain black walnut for a forend tip. Several coats and then a satin finish on it afterward and it looked a lot like ebony.
Might have to try the mahogany on a plain walnut stock I am putting on a Mauser.

I got an unfinshed stock from Boyds and used a analine(sp) dye that was red.

I soaked a rag in the dye and rubbed it on and took a clean rag to rub off the excess right away.

It took the dull brown laminate to a much richer tone.

worked well.

The Watco brand Danish Oil finishes work well on laminates, they are available in quite a few different shades.