I have used the mixture described by JDW. It works as well, or better, than any of the commercial products that have been described. The only caveat I have experienced is that it takes time and many coats: Rub it in by hand, let it dry, and re-coat. Many, many coats, with 24 hours between each application. With a little patience you can create just about any final finish you desire.
A gun stock, no matter the quality, is still a piece of wood. If you do much woodworking you quickly learn that creating a piece of furniture is just 50% of the job and applying a finish can be a real pain in the neck. A gun stock is easy to work with. Try applying a "hand rubbed" finish to a complex table or chair. It won't be long before you start searching for a suitable alternative. Lots of luck! I haven't found a substitute for attention to detail and patience yet, but I'll keep trying.
R.
