Gray stain for maple...

[Nightwind]

Hey guys, I'll be building two Kentucky pistols ( a flint and a caplock) for myself this winter. For reasons I'll not get into, I'd like to have the stock about the color of an old grey fence post. Is there a chemical agent that would give it a deep penetration like Aquafortis, or will I have to use a pigmented stain?

I'd like to use a highly figured maple, but if I can't pull this off without losing the tiger stripes, guess I'll go with the lower grade.

Any help or suggestions would be deeply appreciated.

 

[Terry Zboril]

Two thoughts. Try vinegar in various dilutions on scraps.(then heated).( I get greys to bluish grey).
Also try Brownell's water soluable dye stock stain kit. You can create just about any color with this kit.
The black can be diluted to any shade from light grey to jet black.
Regards,
Terry