Project Information
Here's a new carving project. It's an after market gun stock for a WWI Russian Military Mosin Naggant rifle. I asked around to my gun buddies for an old stock to play with and a friend came up with this gem. For an unknown reason, the barrel, bolt, and trigger case were all engraved with an intricate pattern. I matched the carved design with the engraved pattern as best I could to keep the pattern and design consistent throughout the rifle. I came up with some designs and my buddy approved these.
There's just under 45 hours of work here. Because the mahogany stock was very old it had a nice reddish brown patina. Since oils are a common gun stock finish, I tried a red mahogany Watco oil and it wasn't even close. I ended up mixing 10 parts red mahogany stain with 4 parts english chestnut stain for a nice reddish brown to go over the carved mahogany and it came out great but it was still a flat matt finish. I thought oil would solve this again but that didn't work. Turned out a satin polyurethane painted on to get in all the knooks and crannies did the trick. My buddy says I can borrow it so I have a nice portfolio or show piece for gun shows to try and drum up some carving business.
It's amazing, though. Someone engraves the heck out of this old, inexpensive, military, rifle my friend picked up cheap. Now it has a very expensive carving job done to it. I asked my friend to give me first dibbs if he ever sells it but I'm not sure I can afford it now with the nice carving job done to it. Whooda thunk that would happen.
If anyone comments, sorry I can't respond. Something's wrong where I can't reply to or see comments on this page. If anyone knows how to fix that, I'd appreciate it.
Enjoy,
Justin Gordon
www.ElwinDesigns.com
Groveland, MA
There's just under 45 hours of work here. Because the mahogany stock was very old it had a nice reddish brown patina. Since oils are a common gun stock finish, I tried a red mahogany Watco oil and it wasn't even close. I ended up mixing 10 parts red mahogany stain with 4 parts english chestnut stain for a nice reddish brown to go over the carved mahogany and it came out great but it was still a flat matt finish. I thought oil would solve this again but that didn't work. Turned out a satin polyurethane painted on to get in all the knooks and crannies did the trick. My buddy says I can borrow it so I have a nice portfolio or show piece for gun shows to try and drum up some carving business.
It's amazing, though. Someone engraves the heck out of this old, inexpensive, military, rifle my friend picked up cheap. Now it has a very expensive carving job done to it. I asked my friend to give me first dibbs if he ever sells it but I'm not sure I can afford it now with the nice carving job done to it. Whooda thunk that would happen.
If anyone comments, sorry I can't respond. Something's wrong where I can't reply to or see comments on this page. If anyone knows how to fix that, I'd appreciate it.
Enjoy,
Justin Gordon
www.ElwinDesigns.com
Groveland, MA