Charlie Prices PP article is highly suggested for refinishing to original standards.
Shellac is an ingredient of French Polish but I am not aware that orange Amber Shellac was used. Some original guns with light colored wood were lightly stained with walnut stain or a reddish stain, perhaps alkanet. Others had no stain in the French Polish. Still other original Parkers had an oil finish only, boiled linseed oil with Japan dryer.
If a person is trying to make the stock look old, dark is better and some stain, walnut or reddish is added. This duplicates the darkening effect of age on a clear finish.
|