I have tried them all and find that the oil finishes are fine if you have the patience of job.
One day I came across a recipe in a woodworking magazine that I tried...it's the answer to my prayers. To refinish a stock, all that's necessary is a good wipe with lacquer thinner to get the gunk off (or stripper if it has a poly finish). Then three to five coats 6 hours apart. You are done. I call this my "Rapid English Oil Finish". It's in the wood, all natural ingredients, and gives a nice satin sheen and looks great. The finish hardens and is quite tough and withstands water very well.
We sell this stuff in small jars for folks to put in their guncases. That way you can give your gun a touchup anytime. There is no dye in our formulation so if you want to darken a stock, do it after the cleaning.
