My freckled gal

[Swissrifles1]

Hi all, recently I traded for this K31. When I saw it for sale, I thought to myself ,"there's a jewel under all that Walnut stain". So I got it home, and started the wood bleeching process. UGG!. I tryed bleeching this thing 3 times and I could not get the dark stain out of the Beech wood fibers. Dang!. I wanted to give her a honey yellow look to her, (glistening gold in the sun). Well it just didn't work out that way. So I stained it back to dark Walnut and went with that. Here she is, my new freckled gal... (sorry bout the toe pic)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/jd46561/SpeckledK31001.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/jd46561/SpeckledK31004.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/jd46561/SpeckledK31007.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/jd46561/SpeckledK31008.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/jd46561/SpeckledK31010.jpg

[jgcoastie]

It's different... I kinda like how it turned out, it has a very distinct look... Not bad!

[javabum]

it looks like frog wood.....some green highlights with speckles like a frog....j/k
I my self like the look of the wood and freckles...looks like the rest cleaned up quite well too,shiny.

[Swissrifles1]

Thanks.

[Ozzieman]

Its odd looking! But I like odd looking,, (I own an HK SL-8)
I think you did a very nice job, but the big question??? How does she shoot>

[Swissrifles1]

I haven't shot it yet. Just got it last week. I live in northern IN. also near SouthBend.

[banditt007]

Different, and i like the look of it. good job.

[MLeake]

... and it almost looks like some woods I've seen from custom shops.

Heck, you might as well claim you did it that way intentionally.

Nice rifle, BTW.

Cheers,

M

[Kreyzhorse]

Wow. That came out pretty cool all things considered. Enjoy that K-31, they are awesome shooters.

[Moloch]

Wow, I've never seen wood like that before, odd.......but kinda cool too! :D:cool:

[Ruger4570]

Beech wood actually makes a good strong gunstock, course, it isn't as nice looking as fancy walnut. If you want a uniform color, you will need to use a "dye" stain not the usual oil based stains. Most paint stores ie. Sherwin Williams either have the stain in stock or can get it for you.

[Swissrifles1]

Thanks guys.
Although, im new here to this forum , I have been collecting Swiss rifles/carbines since 1998 (when the k31 was 300.00 each). Here is another one of mine I refinished. This is what I wanted it to look like , but I couldn't get the stain out of the wood fibers without damaging them. I also don't sand my stocks.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/jd46561/Swissrifles014.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/jd46561/Swissrifles013.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/jd46561/Swissrifles012.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/jd46561/Swissrifles011.jpg

[Hardtarget]

I think your rifles look great. I've not refinished mine yet. Waiting for winter. Just too much work right now. My sons just don't understand this mil-surp thing.

Mark

ps: I lived in Elkhart in '69/"70. Except for that short time...Nash. Tn.

[Swissrifles1]

I work in Elkhart. Lots of unemployment here now..Grr!. thanks for the nice comment. :D

[Uncle Buck]

Beautiful! I like the freckled look.

[Ruger4570]

Swiss: Keep on collecting. I wish I had spent more time and money way back in the 60's buying up guns. The place I worked were selling these for something like $19.95, Italian Carcano's for $15.00, Sweedish Mausers for $29.95 and the same for 1917 Enfields. It was amazing even THEN how cheaply you could buy a surplus gun.
I suppose I could retire on a investment of a couple of hundred bucks back then. :D

[Swissrifles1]

Ah yes, if we knew then what we know now. :rolleyes: