[rammed]

I've got 60 to 80 hours in that one. The walnut was harvested about 15 years ago. I air dried it for about 5 years before started using it. All the parts came from Friendship Indiana. I never build one from a "kit". The stock has about 6 coats of linseed oil. Have not done anything else to it since I finished it. It holding up very good. The brass isn't shiny anymore either. I add a little japan drier to the linseed oil. It helps cure the finish. I paint the oil on with a brush for the first coat and keep adding it to it for a couple of hours. Let the wood soak up all it wants. Then use an old towel to wipe off the excess. set it aside for a couple of days. The other coats are applied with my bare hand. Just a little oil and rub until you feel heat being generated. This helps the oil polymerize and dry. Leave it set a couple of days and recoat. When you are pleased with the finish just stop. Depending on the number of coats you can go from a satin finish to a high gloss.