Given the high number of gun stocks I have finished and re finished over the years the majority have been odd sided with one side being more eye catching than the other. Now we are all human and if we dont like something the first impression does always take priority in our mind so I will not go along the lines of it is fine because it is obvious that one side of the stock does not equal to other side in looks, but on its own merit I have seen far worse and if the stock was the same on both sides as the less figured side it would be a good looking stock. What I would advise the owner in your case would be to have the stock finished the Brit way with Alkanet (Red Oil) this will do a number of things firstly it will bring out the underlying grain swirl and lower the contrast between the light background colour and the dark grain lines. In using Alkanet to colour the wood it will limit the glaring dark light grain characteristic effect. Alkanet has been used by Brit gunmakers and stockers to enhance the whole look of a gun stock by making it warm and pleasing, keep in mind Alkanet has been used to colour Brit guns for over two hundred years and is still used today for all the reasons I have mentioned. Try to keep in your mind if your stock is Oil finished it will darken over time.
