Kitty litter works pretty well for getting cosmoline and oil out of the stock. Get some that is clay based, not the clumping (bentonite) kind. Helps to kind of crush it up. Pack it around the wood, ...

I picked up some surplus WWII radial engine poppet valves (think late WWII bomber engines... the valves are HUGE). They were in the original packaging, and coated with protective goo. It's a dark ...