rwarren, You're right that the finish will take on a matte texture after the stain is wiped off. Using Daly's Ben Matte as a top coat, I find it easy to bring back as much shine as I want with just one or two coats over the stained surface. I wipe them on, wait a few minutes for the surface to become a bit tacky, then wipe down the stock with a soft paper towel. PS: You'll find thin shell walnut many times easier to finish than black.

Bill Ferguson