Springfield's Transition to Zinc from Manganese Parkerization.
I've tried to do some research, but all that I seem to find are somewhat offhand comments about the arsenals switchover sometime in early 1944. That seemed late due to the number of zinc parked rifles out there, but after remembering just how many went through rebuild it makes sense for so many to be zinc.
Do we have an actual date?
Were receivers, bolts, and barrels switched over first (maybe that park line had the greatest throughput so switched over first)?
Are there original transition rifles that have a mix of zinc and mang (I think that Carbines were like that). As a side note, there are transitional US web gear where both OD number 7 and OD number 3 was used for different parts of the finished good.
I don't like refinishing anything without a knowledge of "what should of been".
Warm Regards,
Jesse
5 Attachment(s)
Springfield M1 from April 1944
I have what I believe to be an original April 1944 rifle that came from a veterans estate sale in a remote area of Wisconsin years ago. This is is complete as issued in 1944 and has seen service but still has a nice bore. The rifle has a lighter color as noted by my photos