Home Hardware, here in the village, stocks Bulldog Brand. I use what they call "Extra Coarse." Of maybe 3 grades?
Anyway, I can see that the individual strands are flat. I don't pay much attention any more since my methods are planned.
Helps to give my carvings a water-wet glossy finish. I have several uses for the fine stuff. Not wood and not here.
The whole concept was explained to me by a professional interior house painter. I actually got to help do a little of it.
Pretty neat the way it slices off the raised grain fuzzies. Follows every curve and contour and does not scrape off the high ridges, either.
That's the part, for carvings, that I really like.
I've never finished a gunstock or a knife, matte or glossy. Don't know any of the popular techniques.
Have one gunstock that really does need to be finished, maybe do it in the next decade.
3/16" less cast off and 5/16" lower comb, +.75" LOP. I'll get to it.