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I have a Quality Hardware carbine s/n 1603422 with a Underwood 7-43 barrel. my question is that the receiver looks like a shinny dark blue color - like the Dulite color. The barrel is a dark parkerized color. Would this be an original color on the receiver ?
Probably not, but who knows?
Quality only made receivers with the detachable recoil spring tube though. And 28,949 of the receivers Quality used were made by Union Switch & Signal. Stamped "UN-QUALITY".
Go here for all things Carbine. No mention of finishes anywhere I've read on the site. The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines
Looking at the S/N list indicates your Carbine was made in Quality's first production run in 1943. They didn't get going until February of 1943. The barrel and receiver may have been together since. so it may well be the original finish
Hi Robert,
This must be the one that was in the RMCB stock.
Anyway..
Barrel would be correctly dated for your QHMC serial range and sounds as though it may have the correct finish found on Underwood made and supplied barrels.
Still might be a good idea to compare this UEF barrel finish to another UEF barrel.
After looking at some other QHMC's close to yours I wouldn't expect to find a 'Shinny dark blue...Dulite color.'Quote:
Originally Posted by RCS
Does the receiver have a smooth look and feel to it?
Or does it have that gritty grainy look/feel to it like we find on original Finish?
For What This Is Worth:
I have a receiver that had a Over Seas black park on it. Barrel was the same color, a Blue Sky.
Removed and trashed the barrel (cracked gas cylinder) but experimented on it first by stripping the black finish.
I used Muriatic acid on it. It sizzled the black park off and revealed a original looking gray/green park after water rinsing, drying and oiling it.
I then used a Q tip and spot dabbed the bottom right corner under the recoil tang on the receiver with Muriatic Acid.
Got the same results, so I ended up stripping the whole receiver. I was prepared to repark if needed, figured I'd have to.
Results were same as the barrel. Revealed finish looked original with good color/patina.
Trick was to limit the Acids contact time. Only wanting to pull the NEW PARK not the under lying finish. Rinsing, drying and oiling to finish up.
I used a Eco friendly Mur Acid....... probably not as aggressive as hotter versions.
Brand was Sunnyside. I've used this method on BLACK PARKED op slides, trigger housings etc with same results.
Note that not all the underneath park is perfect. Some really did need a new Park job.
I found some links with pictures showing finish color on QHMC's near yours:
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=9228
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....7&d=1241623442
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....8&d=1241623483
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....9&d=1241623516
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=48818&
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....3&d=1400959788
Charlie, thanks for the information. This Quality Hardware came from the NRA membership drive by the paperwork, purchased in 1963 for
something like around $20 and shipped by the army. If the color was changed, it had to be in service. I had a possible USMC 1903 rifle
with the Greek black color and the gunsmith also used acid to remove the color and it really turn out nice.
RCS,
Do you have a couple pictures of your Receiver you could share ?
Look at this older topic linked below.
3 early QHMC carbines are pictured.
One reply by Mikey51 (Now known as Mikey 52) from New Zealand shows a QHMC 1,554,234 that appears to be a blued finish. This was pointed out and asked about by fellow member Ole Topaz but got no replies.
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=34896
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/11/ed2-1.jpg
Dark Rock Ola Barrel on the 1,555,124
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/11/ed3-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-6.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....6&d=1322723754
Side view of 1,554,234
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....5&d=1322723752
If I get the time I'll look thru some photo files from a friend and sift thru his Qualities.
Anyone else with a Blue/Dulite looking finish on a Quality Hardware Receiver ??
My QH has the same smooth finish like 1,555,124 and darker. I will take some photos and get back
Thanks for your help. Robert
Charlie, Here is a photo showing the serial number, very dark smooth color (Like early Winchester M1 rifles). The serial numbers still appear to be sharp. I will take more photos as these were from the IBM stock questions
RobertAttachment 100727