Stock Refinishing Project

[hifiguns]

For shellac, tone down the sheen and smooth the surface with mineral oil and 0000 steel wool. You can get the mineral oil from CVS or Rite Aid (USP). It's sold as a laxative.

[fuegoboy]

SanPedroShooter, you're correct that stain was not applied at the factory. These were essential war tools and they needed to be produced and distributed as fast as possible. They weren't making products for the home.

For my ongoing pistol project I am going to try adding color to the finishing material. Not sure whether I'll go with shellac or tung oil. I've also used Danish oil mixed with a color to get a finish similar the Master Chief's; though his is much nicer than my tool boxes.

Initially I tried resurrecting the original finish but it looked blotchy afterwards.