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I have a 1903 Mark 1 ,106494X that has a dark blue or even black finish. Some parts have what looks like a powdery finish on top of the coloring. Is this bluing or is this parkerizing? I thought parkerizing had a greenish/ grayish look to it. Any help is much appreciated.
Parkerizing differed, depending on the period. IIRC Parkerizing at the time your rifle was built was a deep dark gray with a slight olive tinge.
Blueing over sandblasting looks just like Parkerizing, just not the same color. This is an early Ithaca 1911A1 with Du-Lite blue over sandblasting.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2/rm2nuh-1.jpg
Rick is right. The parkerizing of that period was a deep, dark, olive tint. The recievers and the front end of the barrel were also coated with an asphalt based black paint. If yours looks like it has paint on it, DO NOT REMOVE IT !!! More than one collector has removed it and destroyed part of the original finish because they didn't know any better. Post some pics of your rifle with good close ups like Johnny Peppers' and we might be able to help more.
HTH,
Emri
Yes it looks like the color of that pistol. Some of the higher high traffic spots look more blue and are smoother. Can only get on with my phone. Working on the computer. I'll post when I can
Black paint, that's what must be on my 1918, 10-18 SA barrel '03Quote:
Originally Posted by Emri
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_0382-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_0376-1.jpg
No. Your rifle looks like it has been covered with one or more coats of linseed oil that dried and turned to varnish. The paint I mentioned is definitely black and will not patina or change with age. The front of the barrel only was done, so there would be no voids where the front band covers it up. The front band was not done. The reciever and rear sight fixed base were painted, but no other rear sight parts.
HTH,
Emri
Here's a few pictures of my 1924 NM M1903. It probably has the best and most original finish of any M1903 I have from that era (1918-1930). I think it shows what an original Parkerized finish from that period looked like.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tandard-34.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tandard-30.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-6.jpg
A couple of pics to show color and condition.
Does the "S" in front of trigger guard and in cut-off recess make this an original Springfield stock? I could not find any concrete answers in my research.
Emri- Is the "Black Paint" in your example an original finish or done during rework and would it be considered Parkerizing?