ah yes, alkanet root... a topic near and dear to me heart... haha!
Indeed, Baron, I would tend to agree with you... from the pictures posted the stock is far too light and no hint of that handsome, rich, red coloration most have spoken of so fondly... Alkanet root would be excellent choice. Some others have used Behlen Blood Red, which is, I suspect Alkanet and perchance some other ingredients steeped in alcohol, dries very swiftly. Imparts a terrific coloration... although I have found that it can rub off when exposed to water if you do NOT sink it deeply with a considerable and formidable topcoat of protection... I used Tung Oil... about a thousand coats (not literally: figuratively... I admit I am embellishing here but the last stock I started in November and finihed in March... and I did lose count of how many layers I applied and took off and applied before I got it right... only to mare the front piece with some gun cleaning solvent which accidently sprayed 3 large droplets onto the wood...ugh! ) Anyway, please have a gun stock refinisher with an eye for the classic OLD stocks have a go at your stock with alkanet or similar "red" to bring your stock up to YOUR level of expectation... And yes it should have a deep, dark, red look and not a blond, nut brown colour.
Last edited by Yogi 000; 04/09/07 05:15 PM.
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