For the sake of "do it yourself" folks on small budgets I thought I would post my recent experience with removing oil from a Parker stock. I bought a gh 1 1/2 frame made in 1896 that was basically in parts. The previous owner (at some point) appears to have oiled the stock everytime he oiled the gun. The entire head was black. I am not saying dark, I am saying black. The black extended all the way down the pg, through all the checkering, and was also present creeping up from the butt plate. I made a paste using whiting (calcium carbonate) and carb cleaner, and applied it to the stock with a toothbrush. The paste turned a yellowish brown in areas in a few minutes. I brushed the dried paste off with the toothbrush, then cleaned the residue of with carb cleaner. It was way lighter after 1 application. So I tried a second time. This time I used calcium carbonate and carbon tetrachloride (old cleaning fluid). This also worked, pulling even more oil out.
Here is what my experiment yielded:
1) This process will remove a tremendous amount of oil, and sort of weathers and dries the wood.
2) Be aware it will remove most of the original finish, as well.
3) More applications pull more oil.
I finish sanded the non checkered areas of the stock (400 through 800 grit paper, I didn't wet sand it, as the stock is old, worn and well marked from use, even after ironing). I then finished the stock using "Original Parker Finish". Which I finish sanded and polished with Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish.
It looks pretty fair, still a little dark at the head, but lots of red and gold grain where there was only black, both within the inletting and outside on the stock.
I may not recommend this on a high value Parker, but for a shooter field gun, heck yes it worked pretty well. The gun has 30" imp mod/full and I plan on using it on turkey, if and when I get it back on its feet.
Best to all of you.
Pauly
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