After reading Worm's thread on ICs I think I might have one. This is a 53 Tula with a brownish shellac. The metal has black paint on it and while there was no sand in the stock you can see it packed in the crossbolts.
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/100_1814_zps0e8f80b3.jpg) (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/James_Budge/media/100_1814_zps0e8f80b3.jpg.html)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/100_1815_zps8db57744.jpg) (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/James_Budge/media/100_1815_zps8db57744.jpg.html)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/100_1866_zps369e2f3d.jpg) (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/James_Budge/media/100_1866_zps369e2f3d.jpg.html)
Could be... any pics of the reshellac job and paint?
No, I tried to find out about this when I first got it and thought it was just a refurb with really crappy shellac and a stock that had been sanded to death so I cleaned it up pullhair1 The bluing on it is excellent and the stock looks great with BLO but it makes me sick to think I might have messed one up that had an unusual history.
cry2
Does the stock llack the date & arsenal stamps? And is it mismatched by chance?
Sorry it took so long to answer. Crazy weekend. The stock does match with no x'ed out numbers but no date or arsenal stamp. It seems heavily sanded especially around the wrist.
Laminated stocks are thinner at the wrist.... sure thats not what your seeing?
That may be it but it does seem a lot thinner than the other laminate I have owned.
Welp.. I would say its an IC.
I was afraid it was. Definitely a hard lesson learned. cry1