No 1 stock question???

[cimcw]

Hi guys,
I recently picked up an extra forend for a B . It looks totally original but the wood looks to have a reddish stain on it. My question is... does or did Ruger ever use a stain on their wood prior to a finish coat?
Thanks
Chris

 

[gewehrfreund]

Yes. In my experience, the reddish hues show up very generally in guns from about the mid '70s to the mid 80's. Others may be able to refine this more specifically.

 

[picketpin]

Yep. Actually my favorites other than the blonde ones with the honey highlights are the red ones that seem to be stained prior to finish coat with a stain very close to the old Red Winchester stain. One of my 257 Roberts is a "Red" "B" and it's one of my favorite #1s, period.

Mid to late 70s and early to mid 80s. Stocks are pulled out of the bin for final assembly in no particular order so they show up over a pretty wide range of time but certainly not any more.

Ross