Thanks, all!

M1-Garand tools en route, USG en-blocs and sling in hand.

I decided on getting some pure Tung oil and will play with that when it warms up enough to work in the screen porch.

I haven't finished anything since high school days (back in the Tyler Administration) - wood shop and a part-time gig at a screen-printing company - but I do remember that these types of finishes can cause their rags to spontaneously combust as I caused a small incident with linseed oil rags back then.

It appears (in addition to special care for the used rags) that the trick with Tung is to cut the first coat about 50/50 with solvent so it gets in deeper, then go with 100% for subsequent coats, drying and light sanding between.

You don't have to thin it. It'll just take longer to "dry" (polymerize from exposure to air). Rubbing it in by hand, with that friction and body heat, will help thin it without any chemical additives.

And pure tung oil alone doesn't have a strong smell. It's just oil, and doesn't have any petroleum solvents/thinners included like most hardware store wood finishes and "oils".

I apply pure tung oil without thinning, and do it inside, plus hang to dry inside as well. Done that way, it can be done year round.