I recently picked up a '83 Marlin 1894 44 mag in poor condition for a great price due to condition.
Someone had taken a belt sander to the stock at some point during a botched refinish attempt.
Not only did they use a belt sander, they went across the grain and put deep uneven grooves in the wood.
Most of the bluing was gone and the bolt had a Deep spot of rust about the size of a nickle, not to mention the other rust.
After a couple of Saturdays I got the stock straightened out and restained but the forearm has some strange holes from what looks like was some sort of pressed in foregrip applique. There is even the remnants of what looks to be a brass nail still in the wood.
Did Marlin have anything like this from the factory or was this someone's attempt at customization?
This is a picture after the stock work and after I ground/polished the worst rust spot off of the bolt: