Thanks both for your responses.  Maybe they are an indication of what I don’t want to hear.  I’d hoped that there was some simple guideline like, “all lever actions from the beginning until 19XX were finished with boiled linseed” and then such and such a treatment was used.  Or,  even that there was some complicated chart that had some series of criteria that was used for each type of rifle.

Specifically,  I have in mind my latest acquisition a Mod 63 made in 1941.  At the points where wood and metal come together there is a loss or more appropriately a gain but it is of oil that has darkened the finish.

I will be removing the wood for deep cleaning and also to adjust the tension slots to make the magazine tube more secure.  (ref my posting on Rimfirecentral)  I figured that I might be able to get some of the oil pulled out of the wood and replaced with something that looks closer to natural.  I’m glad that this rifle was put up soaked in oil as far as the metal goes but it did dig a little in with the wood.

Thanks again.

Thanks for pointing that article out,  enlightening and good read.  I think I’m going to make it my business to start reading all the issues available.