Ken, prep your wood as you would for any finish. If I am working on an older gun I sand very lightly, just enough to knock down any grain that may have popped. This results in a nice antiqued finish that does not look so new. Take a couple cotton balls and bind them into a piece of old tshirt. With your finger dab a few drops of BLO (some recommend olive oil), and dip the tshirt into the shellac. Rub this with the BLO into the wood in firm back and forth strokes until it dries. Repeat doing small sections at a time. If you live in a low humidity area it goes quickly, otherwise you have to watch for tacky finishes and allow them to dry before proceeding. This method is detailed further on the PGCA website. It's not difficult and the results are pleasing, and while it's certainly not a London oil finish, it looks right on the older American doubles.
