More pics.

Looks amazing!

Did your wood shrink at all during these processes?

You are doing it the right way. Keep at it.
The previous owners obviously subscribed to the belief that if some oil was good, more was better.

I think the oil in yours is petroleum based. Some hammer era guns, including one I own, were oil soaked with what I believe is protein based sperm whale oil, which is exceedingly difficult to move out with any solvents I know.

If you need advise about refinishing, gluing cracks, etc, ask. At this point it would be easy to run a double line cutter through the checkering and deepen it where worn. Light touch.

xxx

It really stinks on the way out too !

Thanks, so far I haven't noticed any shrinking. I have noticed the pores have opened up but that is probably due to the grime coming out.
John

I cannot believe how much has come out. Whale oil would seem logical in the early guns, I believe whaling ships sailed out of mystic which is not far from Meriden. It must stink when removing it, I would think it could go rancid. Yuck.
I have been wondering which glue to use in the areas that have checkering. Super glue, titebond, or an epoxy? They are hairline cracks.
I am going to do an Amber shellac French polish. I have done that years ago a couple times so it should be fairly easy to pick back up. Thanks for the input.
John

Sperm Whale oil was/is the very finest animal oil in the world. It had always been used on the highest quality of precision machinery. It didn't go rancid.






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Please be careful with your acetone fumes

I cannot believe how much oil is coming out of this stock. I had it the oven for an hour last night and an hour again tonight. Last night I didn't get as much as tonight. I soaked it in acetone overnight then back in the oven tonight, the results are in the pics. I wiped the stock with alcohol before I put it back in to soak again tonight. Only thing I can figure I the original owner was a lefty with extremely oily skin. LOL
John