Originally Posted by
Multigunner
Only thing unusual I can remember about the long rifles was that most stock makers stained the Maple wood with tobacco juice rather than any common wood stain.
I have made my own walnut stain by leaving walnuts from my trees with the hull still on in plastic bags till the hull decomposes and releases a thick goop. I then wash the goop off the plastic with a rag soaked in rubbing alcohol which I can then use directly to wipe down the wood. I make more stain by putting the decomposed walnuts with hulls in a pot wit holes punched in the bottom and pouring scalding hot water over them. The water is then put in a shallow tray and left to dry in the sun. The residue left in the tray is then dissolved with rubbing alcohol and the mix is poured into old jelly jars and sealed for future use.
Its been many years since I made this home made walnut stain.
The scalded stain has a reddish tint while the stain taken directly from the bags is darker and with little or no reddish tint.