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Hi all,
I bought a CMP service grade Garand while deployed. Ended up with a H&R made in 53 with a new CMP stock. The receiver is most likely a Greek return because of the black ish finish from what I've researched. Since its most likely a pieced together rifle that isn't original, I was thinking of refinishing the receiver and barrel to its original finish so they'd match. What would a late Korean War Garand have been finished with from the factory? Thanks for the help.
Why bother? The new finish is part of the military history of "The greatest battle instrument ever devised". If it were mine I would do three things. 1. Document her history (including CMP papers), shoot her, and make sure she eventually is passed on to a child or other person who will take care of her.
Probably a gray Parkerizing. Nothing too hard for someone that does that. Just a bead blast and park...try Chuckindenver hereabouts and he can do it...if he has time.Quote:
Originally Posted by agtex08
Thanks Jim, appreciate the help
Stop before refinishing anything. Are you 100% sure its a Greek Black refinish? Original finish can be very dark. Most people dont know the difference between original finish and Greek Black. As soon as they see a dark park tey automatically think its Greek
Greek black is easy to spot as it looks more like a thick black paint
On the Parkerizing before you chose, call around on that Garand and talk to Dean at DGRGUNS.COM and he will match the Parkerize intended for that Garand or any other Military rifle you would like to have that done too. Here is one of his M1 Garand Parkerizing. He's a good guy to talk to.
I totally agree with Orlando--you may be making a HUGE mistake. Most original H&Rs I have fondled were a VERY dark grey parked finish. Either post some good photos, or get an opinion of an expert before proceeding.Quote:
Originally Posted by Orlando
The two M1D's I recently got from Perry are an almost black parkerization, not a paint. The gent at the counter said they were Greek. The gas cylinder does have a black paint on it which resembles stove paint and will not come off with acetone, paint thinner, PB Blaster or oven cleaner (hey, had to try it). I would have removed it with my bead blaster, but someone stole my compressor over the weekend.
He told you they were Greek returns or were "Greek Black" ?Quote:
Originally Posted by bacarnal
The Greek Black looks absolutly nothing like parkerizing and is very easy to identify once you really know what it looks like. Looks like a black enamel paint
USGI parkerizing ranges in color and can be black
He said they were Greek because of the color of the park, which is a black that is like that on the M16's barrel. Definitely not a paint. I'm pretty sure that I know what you are talking about with the enamel type color. It is like what is on the FN49's, what they call stove black, right? Cheers, Bruce.
I would say he was mistaken, original finish HRA's can be a dark parkerizing. Thats the problem, everytime someone who sees a dark parkerizing its automatically Greek Black, not so.
Again the Greek black is very easy to identify once you see it, more of a slightly shiney black enamel paint. Not a parkerizing at all. Chamber face will also be black
Thanks, Orlando. These rifles had been refinished at one time or another, since they were both Springfield 6 digit. Both had been re-barreled with SA 52 targeted barrels. Somewhere along the line they were black parked, maybe when they were re-barreled since the overall finish of all parts is the same black. Cheers, Bruce
This is good advice. Generally doing less is best (except for safety issues). Whenever I see the words "REFINISH" my heart cries and my head screams. 99% of the "refinishing" work turns a grungy gun into a fake: over-finished by a Bignorant who thinks a wartime gun's wood is supposed to look "light and bright," and its metal must be "polished shiny black."Quote:
Originally Posted by us019255
On the other hand, I've seen many "purists" slather coats of raw linseed oil over a gun thinking that because this was done in the battlefield, it is therefore proper restoration. A decade later the sticky finish has gathered dirt and dust, the oil turned yellow then brown, and the gun lacks any spark of energy except when shot at the firing range.
If interested in a few ideas about how to "restore" a wartime gun (versus "refinish"), take a look at a piece I wrote for Enfields (98% applies to M-1's).
Dropbox - Laws Principles of Restoration V1.0.pdf
Of course, any other expert opinions are always appreciated and healthy debate is enlightening.
Best, Robert
I picked up a Walther P 38 with a finish like that. Impossible to get off without bead blasting. Ugly as sin. Thought it was a Russian capture.Quote:
Originally Posted by Orlando
The thing that makes refinished rifles stand out is that all the parts are the exact same Parkerizing color shade. Original rifles were always assembled from parts that had been batch finished, so we expect an original rifle to look slightly mismatched.
Gas cylinders are stainless steel, & they do not take Parkerizing. (At least, they didn't during WW2 & Korean) There's a guy (IIRC, advertises in the GCA Journal) who repaints them, & does excellent work.
Neal
Maybe not quite stainless steel but it works out the same. They can be refinished and it's not even close to magic, you need Brownell's Oxynate 84 and the finish will be perfect. Nice military looking finish...Quote:
Originally Posted by Neal Myers