Sweeney, Painted on a coat of aqua fortis. let it set 1 hour, heated it with my heat gun until it looked pretty dark to bring out stripes. Rubbed it back with 0000 steel wool until wood, not curl lightened right up. Whiskered wood 2 times over boiling water, again buff with steel wool. Painted on a coat of Laurel mt. Honey maple stain, let set 1 day. Buff again with 0000. Hand rub linseed oil until your palm is really warm. Do that once a day for week ---- or more. Wait at least a week before waxing......Been doing it this way since 1961 with an M-1 rifle........Tom