Soft Stock ?

[gumpokc]

If it is a good wooden stock, and if you do decide to sand it down, then use boiled linseed oil for a finish.

rub your hands togeather to get them warm, then get a palmfull of linseed oil and rub it into the wood.

1 coat a day for a week, 1 coat a week for a month, 1 coat a month for a year.

that's an old formula that dates back to the 1700's.

now sure we know your probably not goign to follow it exactly, but if you do the week and month and let it dry good, you'll dent the wood before you'll scratch it.