Hello Mary,

depending on the thickness of paint, there are several ways to remove it such as sanding- all of which require that the wood underneath be refinished..

You may use a heat gun to heat up the paint (be careful not to put the gun too close and burn the wood - 6 -8 inches away) and then use a paint scraper to remove the paint as it begins to wrinkle and appear softened.

You may also apply a chemical stripper (you'll have to ask which solution is best for paint) - apply the stripper evenly with a paint brush and wait 20-30 minutes. The paint should begin to wrinkle and look softened. You may use a paint scraper to remove it again. 

On Feb 7, 2014, at 9:51 AM, Kate McCarthy wrote:

> Hi Listers!
> We just got a donation of a rifle that is in excellent condition...except for the stock (wooden handle part) that is covered in a red, oil-based paint. It's obviously a spill and we were hoping to put the rifle on exhibit. Does anybody out there have any suggestions on removing the paint without damaging the wooden stock underneath?
> Thanks!
> 
> Mary "Kate" McCarthy
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