Potential win-13 garand purchase question?

I wonder if it's one of the spray on bake on finishes?

Don’t know what more to say. The rifle is listed as #3279, pg 472 in the inventory of WRA company firearms reference collection (rare book), the GCA journal 16-3, summer 2002, and canfields book on pg 373. I have a rifle with similar finish. It is exactly what mint and like new WWII dulite looks like.

I recall reading a post regarding a N.O.S. Winchester gas cylinder that when removed from the original packaging it pristine finish faded in a short time. I wonder if the du-lite finish would still be there after all these years.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cture562-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cture516-1.jpg

More Here

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=37148


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...esterWid-1.jpg

Is it Dulite or Dichromate? I wouldn't think Dulite blue would work well on steel with such high nickel/stainless content. I learned that the Dichromate black finish was very poisonous to apply. Many lower-level maintenance shops applied paint to them the same as post service owners have and do.

If my memory is correct, I recall that Winchester used a copper plating before the dark finish was applied to the cylinder. Also original WRA gas cylinders do not have a bevel on the bayonet stud.

Photo shows a WRA gas cylinder.Attachment 138759Attachment 138760

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RCS

I recall that Winchester used a copper plating before the dark finish was applied

---

I've read an iron finish was applied.

I think your correct Jim

Just looked again and deeper, here's a quote from Fulton's Armory quoting Scott Duff...

"As manufactured, the stainless steel gas cylinders were (literally) "in the white"; a variety of coatings was tested, including Armor-Vit and Silco Black. Eventually "a molten dichromate black" was found to be most durable. Winchester gas cylinders have been observed (that) were iron plated and blued. In adition, Winchester gas cylinders have been observed which appear to have been copper vapor plated and blackened" (Quote from Duff, "The M1 Garand: WWII," page 147)."

Here is my Win-13

I can take better pics if anyone needs them..

Win-13 1st day of production - Album on Imgur

I encountered this one in an estate. Appears to be a late type 2 national match. The only defect I can find is the sliver missing from the upper handguard. ME 1 TE 1.5. All NM parts are there save the front sight . Last four of the SN in the barrel channel. SN 548XXXX. Barrel date 6/54. Beautiful rifle.