What kind of stock finish for Model 12 CS ?

[nyatii]

I have a Model 12 CS serial # 633XXX. I'm trying to duplicate the original finish. Does anyone know what I could use to accomplish this task? And will I need to stain the wood, or will the finsh be of right color once it is on the wood. Thanks in advance. Jim V.

[nyatii]

Thanks Noel. I'm only refinishing the stock as it was stripped 20 years ago. The forearm and everything else is not being touched. I'm trying to match the forearm. I'm not sure what to use for the finish. Did they use varnish back then, lacquor, or what?

The blueing is really pretty good, and looks like new under the feed tube, however, the guy I got it from years ago hadn't taken care of it so there are a lot of minor blemishes on the metal. The bore is pristine and it doesn't look like it was shot much.

Jim V.

[Rickster]

Judging from one that I have that is well worn, but clearly not refinished, I am fairly certain that the closest product now available is shellac. You can get amber colored Bullseye shellac at Lowes (or maybe it was Home Depot, I forget). You can also get shellac flakes on the web. I bought some garnet colored flakes online a while back but have forgotten where. (No, I dont forget everything). Once you have used shellac, you will readily recognize it in the future. Shellac looks much darker at an angle than it does straight on. It traps light between the inner and outer surfaces, much like fiber optics. Otherwise, it looks a lot like oil. Learning to apply shellac takes some experimentation. I prefer to dilute and spray it. The main thing to remember is to put it on in thin coats. If it goes on too heavy, it will develop a skin that will seal solvent under the surface. The underlying finish will then take a looooong time to dry. The reason you dont see original finish on most of those old guns is because shellac doesnt hold up well. Even if not abused, it degrades over time. So, if you see one that has a nice shiny finish, it was almost surely redone, and most likely in oil, and more often than not by someone that recently discovered Homer Formby products and sandpaper.