Do I mess with this scratch in my M1 Garand stock?

[shatter]

Calgunners,

I took some additional pictures today out in the sun of my new Service Grade 1944 M1 Garand recently received from the CMP. I noticed what looks like a scratch that runs the length of the stock on one side. Is there anything I can/should/should not do about it?

Thanks!

Pic 1 -> http://imgur.com/a/uIeIY#1
Pic 2 -> http://imgur.com/a/uIeIY#2
Pic 3 -> http://imgur.com/a/uIeIY#3

[Rickrock1]

Do you have any scratches on the display case that rifle sits in ??

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Why don't you just go shoot it and enjoy it? It is a surplus military rifle, not the Hope Diamond.

[shatter]

Hi,

I received the rifle about a week ago and so far it has only been in the foam case that the CMP ships the rifle in. In this instance at least, it couldn't have picked up a scratch from the safe or being put in or out of the safe.

I have only taken the rifle out of the CMP foam case twice so far, both times to take some quick pictures and have always place the rifle on a towel.

[G-Man WC]

It's a beauty mark and you'll grow to love it.
-g

[SanPedroShooter]

Well it survived WWII, then it got scratched...

It looks like a razor cut from taking it out of storage at the depot.

[TRAP55]

Piece of burlap, a little BLO, rub it into the scratch like you mean it, wipe off excess with a paper towel, won't even know it was there.

[SanPedroShooter]

That sounds right. If I was feeling frisky I might slightly tint the oil.

Just don't sand it.

[johnthomas]

Take some dark Old English. I've used the dark on dark wood.

http://www.oldenglishpolish.com/sf2_scratch.shtml

[Irrelavant]

Piece of burlap, a little BLO, rub it into the scratch like you mean it, wipe off excess with a paper towel, won't even know it was there.

^^^This

[shatter]

Awesome, thanks for the great help, I really appreciate it!

Some tight weave burlap from Michaels do the trick?

http://www.michaels.com/search?q=burlap

[DirtyRussianAmmo]

Someone keyed your Garand!

In all seriousness, congrats, that's a great-looking rifle!

Yep, a few coats of BLO... and then twenty or thirty deployments to your local range and no one will be the wiser.

[TRAP55]

Pay for burlap? You must be rich!.
A piece of old denim would would work fine on that. Do the whole stock and wipe/buff it dry before the BLO starts to dry. It'll clean and condition at the same time.

[762ch]

BLO is the way to take care of that, I re did a few really beat up Garand stocks. They now look brand new, but retain the original stamps and proof marks. Steam will take out the dents, and a little bit of sanding will get that scratch out.

I'd work my way up from 180 to 800grit then apply BLO.

This is the last one, the BLO darkens up after a few range trips and after being handled more.

[Enfield47]

Piece of burlap, a little BLO, rub it into the scratch like you mean it, wipe off excess with a paper towel, won't even know it was there.

^^^perfect advice. If you want to darken the BLO, put some in a small dish and let it sit in the sun for a few hours.