Arlen, Early finishes could involve 40 hand rubbed coats or more. Applied over long periods of time as always some things were better done than others. Linseed is a good choice. If you don't use Boiled Linseed Oil. The problem is the way the material is processed.
Linseed is in a category called fixed or non-drying oils.
Today boiled linseed is processed by the introduction of a heavy slug of petrochemical driers which simulates the oxidation but changes the properties of the oil in the process. Hence it darkens too much with age, pulls back to the surface and gets gummy, etc. Raw linseed will never dry. Either use the product I make or follow the below recipe precisely. 1 part home boiled linseed oil.