Parker stocks were originally finished with Amber Shellac. That is where any reddish color comes from. And that alone. Stains and dyes were not used originally.
Many people who use stains and dyes on Parker stocks today end up with a result that is just too dark to look correct. In my opinion.
See photos here of my CH upgrade. One photo showing the wood with just a single coat of clear sealer (which darkened the original light color a little), then finished photo showing Amber Shellac finish on it. The color was achieved with just shellac.
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Shellacs are available in various colors if you mix from flakes. I just use the Zesner Bullseye Amber Shellac. Which from what I understand is the exact same composition as it was 100 years ago.
A french polish can also be considered a Shellac finish since it is just shellac applied in a different manner.
As far as other available finishes that yield a good color to replicate that of a shellac finish, I have found Timberluxe to work well in doing this. However this would not be considered an Original method of finishing the wood since it is a modern material.
I use a couple different things to darken my checkering after it is cut. Depending on what look I am trying to get.
For application of checkering dye, I use just a small brush and a careful hand. Some of the stuff I use will not effect the surrounding finish and will only take to the bare wood of the cut checkering. Others will effect the finish and much care needs to be taken.
Regardless of what anyone may tell you, original looking checkering should be darkened with something. This is based on my observation of higher condition original Parkers. Checkering that is just oiled with a clear finish ends up being the same color or lighter than the rest of the stock. The pattern does not stand out and just gets lost when looking at it from a distance. Look at any high condition original Parker and the checkering will stand out from a distance. Yes, it may not be as dark as freshly stained checkering since some handling may have worn the color off the tops of the diamonds. But it is dark.
See here photos of the checkering on a Trojan that never left the Parker showroom.
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