Henry Rifle Forums

Don't know if this should be under maintained...but today to my horror I put a tiny scratch from a barbwire fence o the stock...it's tiny and thin....but it's there... Any advice how to fix my wretched blunder?????

You can wax it with colored wax and buff, or leave it, and call it character.

I was on an island hunt in Hawaii, volcanic climbs to make, and the retired Colonel I was paired with was hunting with a high dollar Weatherby. Carved presentation grade wood, gold and silver inlaid engraving on the high luster bluing. The glass had gold trim to match. The gun had gouges in the stock, scratches and mars in the metalwork. When I commented, he said he didn't see them as defects. They were memories, they told stories. He could tell you where he was and who he was with when each occurred.

Thanks!

If it is just a small scratch and it went through the coating any wax will blend it right in. If you have a tin of a good pastewax may as well give the whole stock a little pass.

The gun had gouges in the stock, scratches and mars in the metalwork. When I commented, he said he didn't see them as defects. They were memories, they told stories.

That is how I think about all the scars and divots and body parts that creak and groan from injuries past!! I think I would have had a crumby life if I didnt now own those!

Character...gotta love a well used rifle.

I know, I'm no help....

The best part of the story above is when we stopped overlooking a valley, to have our lunch, he shared a few of the stories. He would touch a gouge in the stock, his eyes would go far away as he remembered...

"It was cold that day, bitter. It was one of my last hunts with my father, slogging thru the deep snow above the family place. Dad was feeling fine, and moving well." The Colonel had a faint smile on his face as went back to the day... Feeling the cold, smelling the air.

I could see it in his face.

He would touch or rub a scar on that beautiful rifle and smile, close his eyes and go back...
... Savor the memory for a minute, then began to speak. He was a gifted story teller. At times... I could SEE places I had never been, feel the cold. I would have loved to have served in one of his commands.

Thanks for sharing BM.
I agree, I can remember some of mine also.

RP

My new Browning T-bolt has a couple of blemishes on the stock and I've only taken it out of the box to inspect it. I guess it got there in handling at the factory or in shipping somehow. I'm not worried about it because it's meant to be used and not just sit in a safe. I take care of my guns but have no expectation of them staying perfect.

Thanks guys