Canadian Snider Short Rifle

[Gary Aardahl]

Greetings! This is a question regarding weapons, but as it is Canadian specific, I thought to start here. I have a MKIII Snider Short Rifle of Enfield manufacture with a lock date of 1871. It had the DC within diamond marking on the butt showing Dominion ownership. The unit designation is 22 with a rack number of 74. The unusual thing about this rifle is that the stock is finished black. It is either a thin japan finish or a stain, as you can see all of the wood grain detail and markings as though a standard oil finish. Does anyone have any idea why this would have the black stock? Thanks in advance for any insights. Kindest regards,
Gary

[ED, in Los Angeles]

It was done by a previous private owner for reasons only that person knows. I have seen other european military rifles done like that and they seem to be one of a kind refinishes. I have a an Egyptian SAFN 49 with a strangly stained stock that is like a green varnish. I was stoopid and bought this thinking it was authentic issue. It was not and now I got stoopid low priced FN that no real collector would buy. Well...I did. Live and learn. I got A "real" SAFN 49 later.

A lot of surplus rifles got custom treatment in the 1950's and 60's in the Northern Western Hemisphere, and you have stated you are from Southern California in another post so if you look at a lot of military rifles, you will see a lot of strange things done to them. No one thought of collectability then. They were so cheap here in Los Angeles. I got started as a collector before I even reached puberty!!!!

You have a custom private refinish and it lowers the value. So do I.

[Waggoner]

Another possibility is that it was finished that way by the 22nd Battalion Oxford Rifles. Rifle units wore black buttons and accoutrements. It is not a far leap to think that they may also have blackened one or more rifles. Just a suggestion.

All the best,

Gary

[Gary Aardahl]

Thanks, Gary, for your reply. I have had the same thought, but wanted to see if anyone had any actual knowledge of any unit specific finishing practices that might have included this one. Cheers!