ORIGINAL: Ridge Runner
tiger maple is rightthey take a white maple stock, wrap it with a small hemp rope soaked in kerosene, set it on fire, then stain it dark. thats how the old time makers done it, new production is probably different
RR
If one useshigh-gradefigured maple, there is no need to go through any of these gyrations to get that flame-grain look. It is in the wood. But maple does have to be stained to get it dark enough to look like an old-time rifle. I can think of nothing worse than a blonde Hawken or longrifle!