Carving a stock which has been fully finished

[muzzlediscipline]

What's the worst that can happen?
Totally verbotten?
I am practicing and I am not yet near wanting to cut on my otherwise not so badly assembled Kibler Colonial.
I want to put the finish on wood and metal. Hopefully in the future with lots more practice I will carve up the rifle.

 

[EC121]

It is your rifle. Do whatever you like. However, it would be better to finish this one then sell it later in order to assemble and carve the next one.

 

[muzzlediscipline]

tnx

 

[Phil Coffins]

If I were to try any carving on a finished stock I’d use a stripper to remove all of the finish first. Then after carving and sanding, stain and finish the wood again.

 

[martin9]

I carved an english walnut stock a few weeks after applying finish. The wood was very dry and chippy and the finish helped tremendously. So I say it depends on what kind of wood. Walnut and cherry some finish soaked in will likely make carving easier ...maple you'll have to be careful with stain matching and so forth....I've found bone blank is helpful in blending in some spots.

 

[PathfinderNC]

I guess it would depend on the original finish. If it was just BLO, then I think you might get away with cutting into the finished piece and then reapply BLO to the reworked area.
If it is varnished, you will have to remove the old varnish and refinish the piece altogether. Otherwise your gonna get witness marks between the old and new finishes.