"Firearm Blueing and Browning"  RH Angier

CHRIS
RGChristensen

I should have made myself more clear.  I am talking about the stock finish.

Expensive, but check out Pilkington Red/Brown finish from Brownell's.
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703-350-502W 
Red - Brown Classic Finish 

Kurt

I read somewhere that "Winchester Red" was a stain made by boiling down the husks of the walnut fruit. I grew up in walnut country and recall the potent dye that was easily extracted. Back then, I didn't know that one could make something useful from it.

Soak walnut husks in mineral spirits for a couple of months Strain through some cheesecloth. Bottle it up. You have enough stain to last you the rest of your life. Use rubber gloves as this stuff will stain down to the bone.

40 Rod 

Play with a little bit of Burnt Sienna oil colors in your finish. Will give a slight reddish cast.   
Chuck

Most companies probably used a product similar to this.
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It used to be called Herter's French Red.  It's a wiping stain that also fills the pores of the wood.  It will muddy the figure in fancy woods but if you look at a nice old fancy grained Winchester, they had that look.  I believe the varnish that was applied after the stain, had a honey gold color to it and that is very hard to duplicate.  Up until the 50's, you used to be able to buy varnish with stain in it to color wood.
I also, mix these dyes to give me the color I am looking for.  Lot easier than alkanet root or walnut hulls.
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Birchwood Casey's Rusty Brown is another one that you can try.  Not quite the same but close.  The aneline dyes like Behlen's, LMF, and Tapadera's are very penetrating so dilute them and put on multiple coats because if it's too dark, you're stuck.  Still another, is TransTint, which is available at wood crafters stores.  Comes in many colors and a little bottle goes a long ways.  Bob