finish on Lithgow metal?

Hi folks,

I have been tasked with refurbing a Lithgow No1Mk3*. Trouble is, the metal has been wire-brushed quite drastically. What are my options? Leave it alone; blue it; or... ?

Thanks for any input...

Louis

I vote phosphate !

I personally would Phosphate / Parkerize!

Blue until about 41 then parkerize.

Thanks guys. Follow up- question then :D

How would one go about phosphating a gun in Canada?

Lou

I've done a couple by bead blasting with very fine glass beads, then getting it all hot blued. Looks very authentic, and most gunsmiths can hot blue. I tried everywhere for someone who could parkerize, or provide me a recipe to do so, and couldn't find either. Also even if you do phosphate/parkerize it will be pot luck what colour you actually end up with, if it comes out silvery/grey it will be heaps worse than a blued bead blasted surface. Mine looked black and flat, and you could only really tell when you held it next to one with an original finish.

Send it to BDL in SC. He is the phosphating maestro.........................

Yup, manganese phosphate is the ticket and original color. Many 1941 and earlier rifles were also Parkerized during the FTR programs in Australia.

Thanks guys. Wish I could simply mail it to you Brian. But it'd be cross border, and therefore not an option...

"Phosphating Maestro"... I like that, Peter!

Louis