Re: dull oil finish
Use bohem's technique with real Tung Oil from Brownell's.
In the world of US battlerifles (M1, 1903, 03A3), the correct finish is Tung oil (not "Tung oil finish" from Formby's). BLO was applied as a field maintenance finish.
Battlerifles were done via a dip, soak, and hang/dry process. Doing it by hand with multiple coatings will result in a deeper finish. After 3-5 coats, no more than 1 per day, and steel wooling in between and after the final coat, will give you a matte finish. If you want a true original battlerifle finish, do not steel wool the last coat. Leave it "fuzzy", just like the real thing, and let use polish it. Just like the originals.
Using 25% Jap Drier and 75% real Tung Oil will make sure you can do a coat a day. Without the Jap Drier you may have to wait longer between coats.