Reason I asked was I'd like to try and use it to stain my project squirrel rifle stock when I am finished building it.
AH so you have a "
window" of opportunity right now as the walnuts are ripening and falling.
So get two containers. I use quart and pint Mason jars for a lot around the house and recycle them so that's what I use...,
Take two, pint sized Mason jars..., and into each put in the crushed and broken husk of one or two green walnuts. Into the first pour in boiling water to cover the husk...you could also add a small hunk of pre-washed 4-0 steel wool. Into the second, pour cold, 90% rubbing alcohol to cover the husk, OR you can use cold, HEET brand gas-line antifreeze (it's methyl alcohol). Some folks do three tests, and test both rubbing alcohol and HEET versions of the stain. After three days, use a cotton swab for each, and
test each stain by applying a small amount of the stains to the inside of your barrel channel. See which of the two or three versions does the trick that you want. If any of them work for you, then you know to go collecting walnuts.
There is another dye/stain that is made with vinegar and iron oxide, and I suppose you could add walnut hulls to that. It's called vinegaroon, and works great on leather BUT reports are that it tends to cause corrosion of iron or steel buckles due to the acetic acid left over from the vinegar. SO...., I'd not try that on a gun as the lock and barrel would then be sitting in contact with the acid.
LD