Correct colour for M 70 stock?

[zeke mccune]

Hi Gang:

As you know, I purchased a Pre 64 Model 70 the other day and I would like to know what is the correct colour the stock should be after refinishing?

I have seen and owned Mod 70's in the past and I have only seen the brown coloured stocks. People claim that they should have a red Winchester colour to be authenic. I can purchase the correct red finish that is supposed to be the correct colour but I have never seen a M 70 that has that red colour. Perhaps it was used on their shotguns and not their rifles and that leads to confusion.

Any thought as to what is the "correct colour for the M 70?

Thanks in advance,

Zeke

 

[vicvanb]

Winchester used a stain on all their Pre-64 guns (rifles+shotguns) that had a hint of red color. Most of the stocks were medium brown with a hint of red but there was wide variation in color depending on the quality of the wood--some stocks took the stain differently than others.

There was a lot of variation in the walnut Winchester used over the years. Pre-war wood was much different than 1950s wood, and that of the early 1960s was really different--much lighter in color and more open grained. Stocks from each era had their own distinctive appearance.

I have not seen many re-finished Pre-64 M70s with a stain that exactly matched Winchester's. Some are too red. Even the stain that is advertised as the same as that used by Winchester does not look right on some types of wood.

If you want to be really picky, Winchester used a black filler (to fill the pores). You can see traces of it on the inside of most stocks (after taking out the barreled action) where it ran into the inletting. I don't think the filler they used is still available.

 

[drover]

Zeke, I believe that Brownells still carrys a stock finish that is supposed to duplicate the original (pre-64) Winchester finish. You might want to check with them.

drover

 

[henrya]

Model 70s came in lots of shades. The finish materials changed more than once. Walnut is a natural material so has wide variation in color and grain.

Staining your stock to look "right" really is up to you, especially since its a re-finish so won't be collectible anyway. So make it a color that you like!

I'd use Waterlox http://www.waterlox.com/ with the first coat stained just a bit to the tone desired. Most any oil based stain can be added to the first coat only. Use a color that suits you. Subsequent coats go on without stain. It'll look pretty "authentic" and its a nice finish that can be repaired. They make an original gloss that would look pretty much like a new rifle finish or you might try the satin version if you like that slightly duller look better.

Try not to slobber finish all over the checkering whether you are re-cutting or not. When done with the rest of the finish, put one light coat on the checkering and you're done. If you're re-cutting one coat when finished will do fine.