870 Express Walnut stock refinishing question

[jefnvk]

OK, I have an 870 Express with a Walnut stock (an oddity, I know). It has the matte finish, like the other Expresses, not the glossy like the wingmasters.

What sort of finish was used on these guns? It is starting to get rough, and since I use it for duck hunting, I don't want it getting waterlogged. Would linseed oil work?

 

[Lee Lapin]

We have one of those too, it's obviously an older Express gun that I think was a transition from the lesser- finished and short- lived Sportsman models of the 870 and the 1100.

I don't know what Remington used to finish it originally, likely some sort of urethane as that's in keeping with the finish on their other walnut stocks. Getting it stripped might be a bigger challenge than refinishing it if that's the case, I think a good oil finish would work well on it once the old finish was removed. Be sure and seal the end grain under the recoil pad and at the junction with the receiver also (candle wax maybe?), and the internal surfaces of the fore- arm as well.

Stay safe,

lpl/nc