Placing a reproduction cartoucheon on a Military rifle is a controversial thing.  I have taken every step I can to ease that quandary for the person who wishes to do so but does not want it passed off as real some time in the future.  I burn a brand in each barrel channel of every stock I cartouche.  This brand can be removed but the stock must be almost sanded in half to do so.  The black charcoal from the burn goes deep and the stock will not look right at all to a new buyer.  The mark I brand is "Shuff's Reproductions".

Each piece of furniture stamps differently then the next.  Hardness of the wood, how flat the surface is, and if the wood is already finished or not all affect the appearance.  Double stamps can and do happen.  They happened often when real USGI cartouching was done and they can happen when I do them too.  Please don't expect a crisp evenly done cartouche, I'm only as good as the originals.  Best results are in stamping an unfinished stock on an area with a level wood surface then adding dark stain, to your taste, in the grooves (taking care to wipe off excess) and dry.  After this step the stock is finished as you like.

I use Fairtrimmers Military oX exclusively on all my new stock sets and I highly suggest that you do too.  Give Frank a visit at www.fairtrimmers.com .  Here's what I've found when using Fairtrimmers;

1.  The stuff actually cures   When you apply Fairtrimmers Military oX you don't have a 7 day waiting period to handle your furniture like Linseed Oil, Boiled Linseed Oil or Tung Oil.  You can handle Fairtrimmers Military oX one hour after treatment and it cures within 3 days.  The original military finishes never did dry and if you think they do then try this:  Take a stock treated with either LO, BLO or TO and place it in an oven at 120 degrees.  After only a few minutes, the original military type oils will sweat right out of the wood.  If you live in the southern part of the United States then you know heat!  On a hot day take a traditionally oiled stock to the range and watch what happens.  You won't like it unless you prefer a wet, hot and sticky mess.  Fairtrimmers Military oX will cure dry and passes the 120 degree oven test with flying colors. 

2.  Water Resistance   Fairtrimmers Military oX is more water resistant than the three original military finishes.  While Tung oil provides the most protection of the three original finishes, it is not water proof!  If you plan on hunting, shooting in the rain/snow, or any type of activity where your valuable furniture could get wet then Fairtrimmers Military oX is the best choice for water resistance.

3.  Appearance   Fairtrimmers Military oX cures with the same great flat satin finish  as the original military finishes.

4.  Versatility   When you apply Fairtrimmers Military oX the color will be a nice  brown/red.  This is a great looking original finish all on its own.  You can also use  Fairtrimmers Military oX in conjunction with other methods to get that custom color you are looking for while protecting your furniture with a highly water resistant finish.  The stuff has endless potential for customization.

5.  Inexpensive   While Fairtrimmers Military oX may cost the same as other military finishes it does not cover the same amount of wood.  Fairtrimmers Military oX will cover FAR MORE!  It doesn't take but 2 ounces to do an entire stock set and no thinning or mixing is required.  Your good to go right out of the can!

Tom's 1/3rd Mix.  You'll love this finish after you have applied Fairtrimmers.  www.thegunstockdoctor.com
I use to use Fairtrimmers exclusively on my stocks but found that some folks wanted that "wet oil" look on there furniture.  I tried Tom's 1/3rd mix and was very happy with the satiny oil look it provided.  For some projects it's just the finish you need to make your rifle look authentic.

I brand the barrel channel upon customer request.  This assures the customer that the furniture may not be passed off as authentic.  This brand burns deep enough to make any attempted removal an obvious fake to a potential new buyer.