Can't wait to see the finished rifle!
Denatured Alcohol and a bronze wool pad(or the like)to take off the old shellak, steam out any shallow dents with a steam iron and a wet rag on the dents. Do not get the wood so wet that it warps when drying. use towels to sop up the crud/cleaner. Let dry overnite. Use 800 grit or steel/bronze wool to knock down the raised wood fibers. Wipe off wood with a sticky cloth or blow clean with compressed air. Apply a wood stain(red mahogany?) to the stock. Let dry overnite. Apply a coat of clear shellak, let dry overnite, steel/bronze wool the stock lightly to remove air bubbles and rough spots in the shellak. Repeat the reshellaking process to your personal desire, (usually 3 coats). Here is a 91/30 stock I redid. (The old shellak was flaking off badly and the refinished rifle looks better than the picts. show). http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...s/?action=view¤t=2006_0703Mosin0044.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...ns/?action=view¤t=2007_1011Tula0003.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...ns/?action=view¤t=2007_1011Tula0001.jpg