Safest Way to Remove Paint From Wood?

I have a new MP44 in the works which at some point in time has been painted black on all of the metal surfaces. There is also a thin coat of what appears to be some sort of black paint on the walnut stock.

Any ideas on the safest way to remove this while preserving the wood underneath? I have ruled out any sort of chemical stripper as that would damage the wood fibers... what about acetone or denatured alcohol? Or is there a better method?

I'm trying my best to avoid that "cleaned" look that so many stocks suffer from...

Bump, does anyone have some ideas?

Hello Meridius,
I've had very good luck removing varnish with any of the antique furniture paint and varnish strippers such as "Blix" sold by Home Depot. I've been using the same method since the 1980s. I greatly prefer the stuff that comes in the can, with the provided spray bottled. Follow the instructions exactly. This stuff will remove the paint and varnish and not harm the wood.

Get several nylon bristle tooth brushes. Hang the stock from a tree limb outside. Spray the stripper on it, it goes on like a gel. Let it sit per the instructions and it will bubble up the paint. Brush it off. Best initially used perhaps a soft toilet cleaning brush or something a little stiffer than a toothbrush but not so stiff that it scratches the wood. You may have to do this a couple times. Wipe with a dry towel. I sometimes then come back with an acetone wipe. Let dry. Then, I come back and neutralize everything with a light wipe of Ballistol on a white towel. You'll need good rubber gloves, not surgical, as the chemical will burn your skin and eat a surgical glove. Here you go:
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-remove-old-paint-and-varnish/index.html
http://www.rockler.com/how-to/removing-paint-antique-oak-furniture-paint-stripper/
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20248403,00.html

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1694

Good luck with it. Let us know how it turns out.
Regards,
Hambone

Thanks for the info Hambone, I'll give this method a try

I have used a method almost identical to Hambones for RC stock clean up - works great - no complaints.