I used Birchwood Casey's walnut rusty wood stain. It’s water based and the first coat looks terrible but it evens out after a few more. I used it on my ‘03 Springfield sporter [21 inch bbl] rebuild. But this was a sanded and modded scant stock. Turns out nice and reddish. BUT...I would never sand an original stock on a Krag or Springfield unless it was already buggered up and the cartouche was already gone.

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