I don’t like seeing American black walnut on European guns. They never came that way. English or French walnut is a superior gunstock wood. Many American guns did come with American black walnut, and the right piece of wood on one looks like it belongs there.
There have been a few Darne guns floating around the ‘Net with capped pistol grip stocks, something they never came with when they were new. Invariably, they are stocked in black walnut, and it sticks out like a sore thumb. Even if the work is perfect (it seldom is). Nice French walnut, even fairly plain just looks like it belongs there. Because, it does.
I don’t object to a varnish if it is a bit subdued. A semigloss poly wears like iron, and looks OK on a gun that sees a lot of weather. Oil is beautiful, but, I grasp the reasons people don’t like it. I like it, however.
At the end of the day, a guy should do what he wants, and what he can afford. I’ve seen a purple Cadillac Eldorado, somebody must have liked it enough to do that, but, I don’t want one.
Best,
Ted
