It has a lot of contrast stripes coming up on the surface, Pat, that is the way it will become a stunning stock. Don't overdo it and cut or sand that grain out again (stocks will do that sometimes). It looks pretty great the way it is right now. Don't overdo it and just let that stock be all that it can be!
Beautiful work, you have the patience to deal with the details!! I have one piece of advice - you are obviously skilled, and know what you want. If you are not experienced at checkering, I suggest you don't use this gorgeous project as your training ground. I speak from experience :lol: I love checkering, but I screwed up at least three stocks developing the skill and confidence to take on rifles I truly wanted to come out well. I don't think you can short-cut the process by being ultra meticulous. The things that can go wrong sneak up on you and you have crooked lines, narrow or wide lines, curved where it should have stayed straight a little longer. Things like that. If you are ready to dive into this one and want more advice, PM me. I will share the cautions, tips, and experiences I had as a home alone learner. At least, I wish the web had existed and someone had offered the same to me!
EE2
That is BEAUTIFUL Pat! You did a great job on that stock! Man, that has some really nice figure in it. Congrats on such a nice rifle. That is going to be a pleasure to carry...
Ok so I really didn't like the shiny finish so I hit the whole stock with 0000 steel wool and man do I really like it now!!! It has a rich satin finish now. Here it is next to the original factory stock.
That is some beautiful wood. The straight grain in the original just doesn't have the character of the one you've finished. That is simply handsome. Come to think of it, that would look good on a couple of rifles I own! :mrgreen:
Really nice looking stock, Pat. Hitting it with that 0000 steel wool always mutes the shine a little and makes it look more professionally done. It came out really well for grain, color and you did a great job on it. It looks terrific! Find somebody to checker it and it will look like a professionally done stock.