My 457 WMR Reborn

Arko

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 6, 2004
21
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When I purchased my 457 about 3 years ago I was shocked by what I knew was hiding beneath the thick, heavy slathering of that dark brown mud CZ just loves to coat their factory wood stocks with. I immediately wanted to remove it to see how beautiful the wood really was. But, having not ever fully stripped a rifle stock before and not positively knowing what type of finish it was I didnt want to make a mess of it so I just left it alone. Every time I took it out to shoot though I always had the deep desire to make it look nicer.
Now Im not unfamiliar with woodworking or applying a finish, Im a wooden shipwright by trade and also make some very nice furniture and have messed around with wood and woodworking pretty much since childhood.
Finally I just decided to jump in and do it, this is the result.
 

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Maybe a before pic is in order. I had a fella tell me I ruined it, that it was beautiful BEFORE i refinished it.
 

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The guy that said you ruined it needs his eyes checked! It looks great! It's amazing how different finishes reveal the beauty in a stock. This is an old 870 stock I refinished a while ago. A lot of nice grain hiding under a lousy factory finish.
 

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When I purchased my 457 about 3 years ago I was shocked by what I knew was hiding beneath the thick, heavy slathering of that dark brown mud CZ just loves to coat their factory wood stocks with. I immediately wanted to remove it to see how beautiful the wood really was. But, having not ever fully stripped a rifle stock before and not positively knowing what type of finish it was I didnt want to make a mess of it so I just left it alone. Every time I took it out to shoot though I always had the deep desire to make it look nicer.
Now Im not unfamiliar with woodworking or applying a finish, Im a wooden shipwright by trade and also make some very nice furniture and have messed around with wood and woodworking pretty much since childhood.
Finally I just decided to jump in and do it, this is the result.
Beautiful timber. Worth the effort.