What are the two basic steps to finishing a gunstock?
Finishing a gunstock involves two basic operations: first staining the wood with something like iron nitrate (aqua fortis) or aniline dyes to establish color, and second applying a topcoat finish that seals the wood and gives it sheen. Lighter woods like maple are almost always stained, while walnut or cherry are stained occasionally to adjust color, and ash is typically always stained.