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I saved and bought this Win. Model 70 XTR Featherweight in 1988. It has been on 98% of my deer hunts in those 36 years. Never has been a safe queen. It’s a weapon and a dang good one that has put down over 100 deer. As such, the stock has got several pretty bad dings and blemishes, and simple wear. I’m thinking of having the stock refinished and somehow restore most of the nicks and dings. On the other hand I don’t want to do anything that would potentially damage the wood. Here are a few pics of the gun. Thoughts?





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That’s character. Ain’t no way I would refinish it.
I have a Model 7 .243 that I got for Christmas when I was 8 years old.
It has a ton of scuffs & scratches on the stock and most of the bluing is worn off the trigger guard & bottom metal.
I still carry it more than any other rifle I own.

I wish I knew how many deer and hogs that I have killed with it.
Probably well over 100 of each. I know there was on season that I killed 16 or 17 deer.
It has also been loaned out to numerous friends for their kids and has killed several first deer.

I'd try this , it works miracles, very easy to use . I've used it on some 32 YO oak cabinets and old furniture . I hit it with fine Scotch Brite , wiped it down and followed directions.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Howard-Restor-A-Finish-16-oz-Walnut-RF4016/100199071

Bruh!!! Don’t come up in here with that crap!! Goatkilla says a .243 aint much more then a mouse killer. Stop with the fake news!!

I’d leave it as is. Just keep hunting with it as you always have.

Sandpaper, lots of it, and Tru Oil.

Yep I'd leave her as is.

I’m gonna buck the trend. I’d put a good oil finish on it. I’ve redone several over the years and always happier afterwards. I took one a couple years ago to a gun sift in Stapleton area who did a good job as well.

Buy another one and use it for a while. Switch back to the oem with character later.

My father bought me a wood 7600 in 89’. I bought a composite set 10 or so yrs ago and switch between the 2 periodically. I can remember the 4wheeler bumps and climber scrapes on the oem and think on them fondly.

I’ve sanded many a 700’s with decreasing grit paper with no issues. Just go easy with and with the grain and stay away from the checkering.

leave it!!!!! my dad died in 2015 and could tell me where every major scratch and dent came from since he bought it in 72. i take it once or twice a year and reminisce.

Refinish the stock yourself. I refinished the stock on my Ruger M77 a few years ago and it showed grain in the woods that were never visible with the factory finish.

Get some of the orange finish remover from HD or Lowe's. Works great.

Tru Oil is an excellent easy to finish.

Use an Iron and a damp cloth to raise the dings.

Sand with sandpaper wrapped around a block.

Plenty of YouTube videos on this subject.

This is what I would do. Iron and damp cloth fixes a lot of those dings.

Seriously , other than leaving it as is , I'd try the stuff I linked first, before a full strip and refinish job . I've got an older stock I'm gonna use it on, I have no doubt it'll revitalize it.

I may do a test run on another gun to see how it goes. Thanks for the comments!

The true fix would be to remove the stock and use a chemical remover to take off the old finish. Then, high grit sandpaper with boiled linseed or something like tru oil. It takes several coates to get to an original like finish.

It ain't broke dont fix it . Id leave it alone

For the dents you can't raise, super glue will fill them. You can sand it flush and once you clear it, the super glue and dent will disappear

I have used Restore a Finish on furniture; works good.
But; I would caution against using on your gun. It's basically a light stain and will change the color. Try it on some wood or furniture to see.
I would either have it done right or leave it as is. JMHO

^^^this^^^

Not quite the same, but both my deer rifle and my turkey gun have dried up blood on them that's been there for years. I wipe it off the metal if it gets on it, for fear of corrosion, but I'm not cleaning it off the stock.

Cool gun by the way!