I recently picked up a repro M1A1 stock out of the classifieds on the CMP forums. Unlike most moderns repro stocks, this stock was an older production with walnut furniture and parkerized metal (most repros have blued metal). Original M1A1 stocks are bringing $1500+ so I figured that, with a little work, the repro could be made into a decent stand-in on my Inland carbine. I have a nice USGI SA M2 stock on the rifle currently so this one will probably just be used as a beater when shooting or toting the rifle around in the truck.
Here are photos of the stock as received...dark lacquered finish, cheek rest inlet is too shallow and cut at a gradual taper, brass rivets on cheek rest in need of some patina.
Photo of USGI stock...notice the cheek rest inlet compared to the repro stock.
Photos of repro stock after a little work...original finish stripped, cheek rest recut with wood files and 3M sanding sponges, steamed out dents from the buttplate, and stained with RIT dark brown dye. I cheated on this stock by using Minwax tung oil finish as a spit coat before applying Real Milk Paint pure dark tung oil cut with their citrus solvent. This is something that I would never do to an original stock with any value, but in this case it saved me from having to apply several coats of PTO. The repro handguard that came with the stock had hollow aluminum rivets and a funky profile so I decided to ditch it for a USGI two rivet handguard that I stained and finished to match. The rivets on the cheekrest were darkened with Birchwood Casey brass black and the leather was slightly dulled by rubbing it down with alcohol.
Close up of handguard (Trimble two rivet)…
Rear side of darkened cheekrest rivets…the brass black leaves a oxidized film if not oiled which gives it a slightly aged appearance.
How stock appears out of direct sunlight…
Here are photos of the stock as received...dark lacquered finish, cheek rest inlet is too shallow and cut at a gradual taper, brass rivets on cheek rest in need of some patina.
Photo of USGI stock...notice the cheek rest inlet compared to the repro stock.
Photos of repro stock after a little work...original finish stripped, cheek rest recut with wood files and 3M sanding sponges, steamed out dents from the buttplate, and stained with RIT dark brown dye. I cheated on this stock by using Minwax tung oil finish as a spit coat before applying Real Milk Paint pure dark tung oil cut with their citrus solvent. This is something that I would never do to an original stock with any value, but in this case it saved me from having to apply several coats of PTO. The repro handguard that came with the stock had hollow aluminum rivets and a funky profile so I decided to ditch it for a USGI two rivet handguard that I stained and finished to match. The rivets on the cheekrest were darkened with Birchwood Casey brass black and the leather was slightly dulled by rubbing it down with alcohol.
Close up of handguard (Trimble two rivet)…
Rear side of darkened cheekrest rivets…the brass black leaves a oxidized film if not oiled which gives it a slightly aged appearance.
How stock appears out of direct sunlight…