Follow the tutorial here

In this video I show you how to add some DIY Tiger Stripes to your muzzleloader stock. This is a simple process laid out by Mitch Yates after studying examples of original Leman muzzleloaders from the 19th century.

Preparing the Stock

To get the stock ready I’ve done a few whiskering passes to “raise” the grain of the wood so that the stock is more smooth with the application of stain or oil. I’ve then applied two thin layers of natural finish “Watco” Danish Oil. This is a nice oil to use for muzzleloader stocks because it is easy to work with, penetrates the wood well, and dries quickly. The application of oil changes the color of the stock a fair bit, giving the wood a rich chocolate brown color. The European walnut stocks found in production kits rarely feature much natural curl in the grain, but the color is always nice. Not only does the oil make the stock look nicer, it helps our stripe painting go a bit smoother. With the wood grain filled with oil now, the ink used for striping won’t bleed into the wood grain. Ideally, it will stay put.

The Tools Needed for Faux Striping

This process can look complicated, but with less than $10 you can get the supplies needed to make your own Faux stripes.

Waterproof Black or Brown Ink - I’m using Noodler’s brand ink, but there are many others out there available at crafts stores or art supply stores online. I personally recommend mixing some black and brown ink to get some color variation in your lines. If you want subtle lines, go with straight brown ink, for strong high contrast lines you’ll want to use straight black ink.

Tiger striping, otherwise known as faux striping has been an iconic staple in muzzleloader stock design since the 19th century. Tiger striped rifle stocks have a very unique, striped, design that distinguishes them from other, more standard finishes. Tiger striping is just one of many ways that muzzleloader enthusiasts can add character to their muzzleloader kits Jack Brooks also has a tutorial out on "How to Tiger Stripe a Leman Stock" and you can read it here

If you have any questions about this kit or the techniques I'm using, leave them in the comments below. I will address as many comments as I can in videos associated with this series to give you as much detail as I can about the answer.

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I purchased this kit but did receive a discount from Muzzle-Loaders.com . My review and content will be unbiased and honest. If you have any questions about this, please let me know in the comments so I can answer publically and transparently.