I'm experimenting with a new finish I call "Cheater's Slakkum." It consists of boiled linseed oil, Japan Drier and just a dash of spar varnish thinned in turpentine. It gives a softer "glow" than Tru-oil and can be rubbed on more thinly for the final coat without leaving streaks. I rubbed this over Min-Wax Wood Finish (basically a stain/sealer) that was applied to the stock years ago and I didn't want to strip for sentimental reasons. The "Cheaters" built up more rapidly than I expected, presumably because of the sealing effect of the Min-Wax. For the ultimate in cheating, a neutral colored sealer might work better -- linseed darkens wood considerably, especially if it's an old can that has sat in your garage for 20 years and developed a lot of character.
Tru-oil works well but you have to live with the fact that it's a compromise between linseed oil and modern finishes. Near as I can tell, it's just a blend of linseed and polyurethane, thinned with mineral spirits. Most of the commercial "tung oil finishes" are about the same thing, based on the smell and they way they handle. I think Tru is designed to dry relatively fast so that it's possible to finish a stock with three or four coats over a weekend if you have to.
