I'd really love to see what's under the brown lacquer/paint. I've redone some stocks before and that doesnt intimidate me, what does however, is not knowing what kind of wood is under the factory finish. I kinda suspect beech. The last 300s stock I did was a Mini. If I remember right the serial number was from 1983. It was banged up enough that I couldn't live with it. Prior to sanding off the factory finish of the mini, it looked a lot like the stock on my Veteran-the same brown tinted, one step lacquer "stain." I use the word stain lightly because it was more of a thin paint so that a little bit of wood grain still showed through. Anyway, started sanding and found out I had a very blond beech wood stock under the paint/stain. I didn't want the blotchy effect that comes from staining beech so I just let it be what it is, a very blond, beech stock. It turned out okay and I actually like it now, I'm just not sure if I'd like my Veteran to look that way. The Veteran I recently purchased, has a stock with a finish that reminds me of that beech Mini stock.
So, since it's related to the original poster's question: Anybody stripped/sanded off the factory finish on a Mutant/Veteran stock to see what's under there? Pics please.
I lean more to a nicely finished, natural wood look than a painted stock.
Edit:
I just found an old post on the Yellow archives where a guy refinished a Mutant stock. He said the wood is northern white ash. Wondering if that's the same species theyre using on the current production Veterans.
Anyway, here is his pic:
I could live with this, assuming they're still using the same species of wood 3 years later.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/yellow/taipan-mutant-refinished-pics-t231072.html Here is a pic of mine, this part of the stock has the most grain.