I was able to purchase a really nice Garand from a fellow member and was wondering if a light coat of pure BLO would reduce the rifles value?
What Sanford said; linseed oil was the original finish used by the factory and the military. Later in WW2, they started using tung oil as well - in the PURE form, not in a "finish" - so you can't go wrong using either oil. For my part, I use PTO, and it leaves a lovely appearance.
If you want the reddish tint found on M1's that haven't been refinished in a long time, use linseed oil. It's the oxidization of that oil that causes the reddish look.
Linseed oil was the original finish for Garands so it won't hurt the value at all as long as you don't get too enthusiastic and wander into the "refinishing" realm. For wood stocked military rifles I use a mix of 50/50 mineral spirits and BLO rubbed in with a non-abrasive scouring pad (the blue ones from Home Depot, etc.) scrub on liberally, let sit a few hours, then wipe off and polish with a soft cloth. You can do the same with pure linseed oil but you'll want to take a bit more care to avoid too much buildup in the nooks and crannies that can become sticky after drying, and also give it more drying time overall. Hope it helps!
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